A pair of outstanding pitching performances helped Northwest Missouri State prevail to a 3-0 shutout of Midland University and a 5-1 win over Waldorf College Saturday afternoon.
The Bearcats improved to 6-14 on the season as Midland fell to 12-6 overall and Waldorf dropped to 4-12. The games were part of a late-scheduled double-header against the NAIA foes for the Bearcats.
Ryker Fox was impressive in game one striking out 11 en route to a 3-0 victory for Northwest over Midland.
Fox picked up his first win of the season, as the junior right-hander went 6.2 innings allowing only two hits and two walks. He was perfect through 6.1 innings when he allowed a one out hit by Zach Kinsella providing Midland’s first hit.
Fox recovered to strikeout the next batter as a diving catch from Eric Swain stranded the Warriors’ first base runner.
Northwest jumped out to an early lead when Cam Bedard hit a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Ryan Abernathy. Abernathy reached on an error to start the game and moved to second on a balk before moving to third on a Brandon Huske fly out.
Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when Bedard and Tyler Durant placed back-to-back singles through the infield with one out. JJ Baccari doubled in Bedard and Durant giving Northwest insurance runs and a 3-0 lead.
The Bearcat bullpen would bend but not break against the Warriors, as Blane Reutter and Nathanial Horton entered for the final 2.1 innings. Horton picked up his third save with a bases loaded strikeout to seal the victory.
The second game saw two Northwest pitchers combine to allow only one run on seven hits for the 5-1 win over Waldorf.
Chase Anderson started things off for the Bearcats with 4.2 strong innings adding four strikeouts.
However, Anderson allowed three walks and the lone Warrior run before giving way to Brian Schmiedt to finish the game for his first save of the season. Schmiedt pitched the final 4.1 innings allowing only two hits and striking out two while walking none.
Northwest added two runs early in the bottom of the third inning when Tyler Durant belted a 2-RBI single into the gap scoring Ryan Abernathy and Derek Meyer. Meyer singled to lead off the inning as Abernathy reached on an error and moved into scoring position when Brandon Huske walked.
Waldorf earned its only run in the top of the fifth inning when Brandon Pizzo picked up a RBI bases loaded walk, cutting the Bearcat lead to 2-1. Northwest would go to the bullpen with the bases loaded, as Schmiedt induced an inning ending groundball to hold the Warriors at bay.
The Bearcats added two more insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings pushing the final score to 5-1. Steven Garber placed an RBI single through the infield that scored Eric McGlauflin in the sixth, while Durant picked up his third RBI of the game with a single to right field.
Durant finished the day 5-for-8 in the double-header sweep with three RBIs.
Northwest returns to conference action Wednesday when they host Missouri Western for a double-header at Bearcat Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
— NWMSU Sports Information —