Kansas City, Mo.— The Hawks put the game out of reach early Wednesday afternoon, scoring four runs in the first inning and eight more in the third on the way to a 14-1 win over the Spires at Loyola Park Baseball Field in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Spires fell behind quickly in the first. Laudando hit a two-run homer to center field that scored Koch and gave Rockhurst a 3-0 lead, and Hanna followed later in the inning with a solo shot to left as part of the four-run frame.

Rockhurst delivered a dagger in the bottom of the third, when the Hawks turned a 5-0 lead into a 13-0 cushion. Miller and Wemhoff each delivered a two-run double during the outburst, capping the biggest swing of the afternoon. RU finished with 14 runs on 14 hits and did not commit an error.

USM was limited to five hits, but broke through in the top of the fifth for its lone run. Howard, who entered earlier as a pinch-runner for Rockers after Maverick smacked a double to centerfield, scored on a 3-2-1 double play to make it 13-1. The Spires finished with five hits one apiece from Jaxon Sloan, Ben Brandt, Ethan Howard, and Sean Goings, and a double from senior Maverick Rockers, three walks and six runners left on base.

Rockhurst's pitching staff controlled the game throughout with a multi-pitcher effort. Owens worked three scoreless innings, allowing one hit with one walk and one strikeout. As a staff, Rockhurst struck out nine over seven innings.

USM will come back home for a KCAC series against the Evangel University Valor this Friday, April 10^th and Saturday, April 11^th for their Senior Day Weekend in Leavenworth. Friday's single game is slated for 3:00 p.m. with day two kicking off at 1:00 p.m.