The Northwest Missouri State offense came alive to earn a split with 16th-ranked Emporia State taking the nightcap 10-6 after falling in game one on Saturday, 16-3 in MIAA baseball action from Glennen Field.
The Bearcats moved their record to 5-11 and stay even in league play at 5-5. The Hornets stand at 9-4 on the year and move to 5-3 in conference action taking three of four from the Bearcats and the series win.
Game one of Saturday was all Emporia State as the Hornets scored 16 runs on 18 hits.
Bearcat shortstop Eric Swain joined the home run party as the junior blasted two home runs in the first game and added a second in game two. Swain doubled his home run total as he now leads the team with six.
ESU scored six runs in the first and seven in the second to build a 13-1 lead.
After a first inning home run, Swain belted his second to lead off the third inning. Steven Graber doubled home Eric McGlauflin providing the only offense for Northwest in game one.
It took more warming up for Northwest in the nightcap as they opened up the scoring in the fifth when Ryan Abernathy doubled home Jon Pomatto and Jake Kretzer to take a 2-0 lead. The next batter, Cameron Bedard, singled scoring Abernathy to put the Bearcats up 3-0.
However ESU would answer with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the Bearcat bats continued to come back for more when Kretzer blasted a two-run homer pushing the Northwest lead to 5-2.
Again the Hornets answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth, but it was Swain’s third home run of the day that broke the game open for Northwest. Swain belted his sixth home run of the season putting the Bearcats on top 8-4.
ESU would only manage two more runs as the Bearcat bullpen closed the door.
Northwest starter Chase Anderson picked up the win going 7.1 innings and scattering nine hits. Anderson was charged with only one of the five runs scored as he also struck out three.
Josh Parish pitched the final 1.2 innings giving up just two hits and striking out two.
Northwest continues MIAA action as they host Central Missouri in the home opener at Bearcat Field. First pitch o
— NWMSU Sports Information —