OZARK, Mo. — March 3, 2026 — Mission used a six-run fifth inning to power past Kansas Christian College 12-8 Tuesday afternoon at Ozarks Mountain Sports Complex in the Patriots' home opener.

Pregame

Mission entered the day 10-13 overall after going 1-3 in a four-game road series at Warner University in Florida. Tuesday marked the Patriots' first home game of the season. All Mission home games this year will be played at Ozarks Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark, Missouri.

Game Summary

Kansas Christian threatened early with two singles in the first, but Mission starter Paulsen worked out of trouble to keep the game scoreless.

The Patriots struck first in the bottom of the second. Golden singled to right before Jacobs tripled on a line drive to right field to plate the game's first run and give Mission a 1-0 lead.

Kansas Christian answered in the third. After two reached, Taylor delivered a two-run single to left to put the visitors ahead 2-1.

Mission responded immediately in the bottom half. Vaughan was hit by a pitch and later scored when Palen singled to right, tying the game 2-2.

The Cougars reclaimed the lead in the fourth when Galloway doubled to left to score a run and make it 3-2. Mission answered again in the bottom of the inning. Jacobs walked and moved into scoring position before Thompson lined a single to center, scoring two runs and giving the Patriots a 4-3 advantage.

The game turned in the fifth.

Mission loaded the bases and capitalized on control issues and key situational plays. Miser was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Jacobs and Beatty were also hit by pitches with the bases loaded, bringing in two more. Free reached on a fielder's choice to score another, Mulholland drew a bases-loaded walk, and Palen reached on catcher's interference to cap the six-run frame. Mission surged ahead 10-3.

The Patriots added two more in the sixth. Lawson scored on a wild pitch, and Langford followed with a single to center that scored Thompson to extend the lead to 12-3.

Kansas Christian made a late push.

In the seventh, three runs scored on RBI singles from Taylor and Boen along with a groundout to cut the deficit to 12-6. The Cougars added two more in the eighth on RBI singles from Rincon and Taylor to make it 12-8.

Mission turned to Hunter in the ninth. After an error and a stolen base put the tying run on deck, Hunter recorded a groundout, a strikeout, and a lineout to secure the win.

Kansas Christian finished with 14 hits, while Mission tallied 11. The Patriots took advantage of five Cougar errors and drew multiple hit-by-pitches during the decisive fifth inning.

Mission improves to 11-13 overall with the victory.

Stat Leaders

Mission

• Thompson: 3-for-5, 3 RBI

• Palen: 3-for-5, RBI

• Jacobs: 1-for-3, Triple, RBI, 2 HBP, Walk

• Mulholland: 1-for-3, Double, RBI, Walk

• Lawson: 1-for-1, Run Scored

Mission totaled 11 hits and capitalized on five Kansas Christian errors while plating six runs in the decisive fifth inning.

Postgame

Mission used timely hitting and patience at the plate to build a large middle-inning lead, then weathered a late offensive surge from Kansas Christian to secure the home opener victory.

Next Up

The Patriots open conference play this weekend at home against Harris-Stowe State University. The three-game series begins Friday, March 6 at 2:00 p.m., followed by two games Saturday, March 7 at 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. All games will be played at Ozarks Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark, Missouri.