The Northwest Missouri State baseball team won a pair of MIAA contests against Missouri Southern on Saturday at Bearcat Field in extra inning, walk-off fashion. Northwest won both games in the bottom of the tenth innings, taking the first game, 2-1, and winning the nightcap, 4-3. Northwest moves to 18-13 on the season and 13-10 in MIAA play. Missouri Southern drops to 19-14 and an even 13-13 in MIAA play.
Game One
Northwest’s Ryker Fox and Missouri Southern’s David Reese engaged in a pitchers battle that needed extra innings to decide a victor. Fox went 7.0 innings, allowing just one run while striking out seven. Reese went the entire way for MSSU, giving up just two runs on five hits with nine strikeouts. Blane Reutter came in for Fox following the seventh inning to pick up the win, going 3.0 innings of perfect relief, allowing no runners with one strikeout.
In the seventh, Missouri Southern broke the scoring drought as a two-out walk came back to hurt the Bearcats. In the bottom of the seventh, Northwest loaded the bases and Jon Pomatto, who started the inning with a single, scored as Brandon Huske was hit by a pitch.
In the 10th, Huske walked and Paul Johnson doubled to right center. After Ryan Abernathy walked to load the bases, Eric McGlauflin hit a ground ball to the left side and the Lions were unable to throw out Huske on the play, scoring the winning run.
Game Two
Northwest jumped on the board early with three runs in the bottom of the third. Huske started the inning with a single and scored on a Paul Johnson single that the centerfielder misplayed, allowing Johnson to advance to second. McGlauflin grounded into a fielder’s choice as Johnson was out at home. After a Pomatto walk, Steven Garber doubled to drive in a pair of runs.
Missouri Southern added three in the top of the fifth to tie the game. The game would remain tied heading into the bottom of the 10th. McGlauflin doubled down to right field with one out. Garrett Fort was called on to pinch run. The next batter, Pomatto, singled to left, scoring Fort from second for the winning run.
Nikko Pablo started and went 4.0 innings with five strikeouts for the Bearcats. The Bearcat relief pitchers had 6.0 scoreless innings as Andrew “Bex” Trout pitched 2.0 scoreless innings and Daulton Perry picked up the win after going 4.0 innings. Northwest outhit the Lions, 10-6, in the nightcap.
The series with Missouri Southern concludes tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at noon. The games will include a seven-inning contest followed by a nine-inning game.
— Northwest Sports Information —