The Missouri Western baseball team picked up two victories from Northwest Missouri State behind two solid pitching performances from Brandon Simmons and Jerad Hawkins. The Griffons won game one 6-1 and game two 6-5. The Griffons are 21-4 overall and 16-1 in MIAA play.
Game 1: MWSU 6, NWMSU 1
The Missouri Western baseball team picked up the win in game one of the doubleheader against Northwest winning 6-1. Brandon Simmons improved to 6-0 on the season giving up five hits and zero earned run with two strikeouts. Simmons had 30 victories in his career which is two away from tying the MIAA career record for wins.
Kyle Simpson, Spencer Shockley and Grant Fink all had multiple hits in the first game. The trio also collected two RBI apiece. Fink stretched his hitting streak to 20 while Michael Schulze got a hit in his last at bat extending his streak to 17.
The Griffons jumped on the board in the first inning putting three runs up to take a 3-0 lead. Simpson singled to score Bubba Dotson from second base. After that, Shockley singled and scored Simpson. A double to right center from Fink gave Jimmy Smelcer a run to take the commanding lead.
After the Bearcats put a run on the board in the third inning, the Griffons strung together three more runs in the fifth taking control of the game.
The Bearcats got two hits from JJ Baccari while Austin Warren falls to 1-4 on the season. He went all six innings giving up eight hits and six earned runs while striking out four.
Game 2: MWSU 6, NWMSU 5
The Griffons rode the pitching of Hawkins in game two as he went a solid 6.1 innings givin gup six hits and three earned runs. He struck-out four batters improving to 3-0 with the victory. Logan Hollingsworth picked up a six out save going two innings giving up two hits and one earned run.
The Bearcats got one run in the top of the first but the Griffons responded with Simpson singled in Dotson tying the score at one after one. The Griffons took the lead for good in the third scoring two runs on two hits. Smelcer got a sacrifice fly and Jake Schrader doubled in Spencer Shockley giving MWSU the 3-1 lead.
The Griffons scored one in the fifth and one in the sixth taking the 5-1 lead after six innings. The Bearcats fought back making it a game scoring four runs in the final three innings. Smelcer hit his third homer of the season in the bottom of the 7th inning which proved to be the game winner.
Missouri Western had 11 hits in the game with Simpson, Nate Ramler, Schrader and Shawn Egge all getting two. Smelcer had three RBI while Simpson had two.
The Bearcats fall to 9-18 overall and 7-15 in MIAA play. they had eight hist with Ryan Abernathy and Paul Johnson each collecting two. Rob Henrichs got the loss going 2.2 innings giving up five hits and three earned runs.
The Griffons return to action on Friday, March 29 in Jefferson City, Mo. against the Lincoln Blue Tigers in a single nine inning game. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
— MWSU Sports Information —