The 1978 MSSU baseball team had to overcome Mother Nature with 24 games rained out during the season and the Lions were just one game over .500 (15-14) at the conclusion of the regular-season, but that's when the team heated up.

Seeded fourth in the NAIA District 16 playoffs in Springfield, the Lions won the district with three-straight wins and went on to take three-straight in Wisconsin against Wisconsin-LaCrosse and Winona State to win the Area Championship and make it to the NAIA World Series.

The Lions won three-straight over Emporia State, Lewis and Clark and Lipscomb to start the World Series, but fell to Emporia State in two-straight to finish as the National Runners-Up. At one point in the post season, the Lions won nine-straight games to put themselves in the National Championship game.

Led by Hall of Fame coach Warren Turner and All-District players Greg Curran (2B), Red O'Dell (CF), Mike Allen (C), and pitcher Barry Jenkins, the Lions also placed O'Dell and Jenkins on the All-Area Tournament Team. Jenkins, Allen and Randy Cable were named to the All-National Tournament Team and Turner was named the NAIA Coach of the Year.