The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell in an MIAA doubleheader on Friday afternoon to Emporia State at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Bearcats lost on a walk-off grand slam in game one, 6-2, and dropped the second game, 3-1. Northwest is now 21-19 on the year and 15-16 in MIAA play. Emporia State moves to 28-14 overall and 21-13 in conference action.
In game one, the Bearcats fell behind early 2-0, but Northwest battled back to score twice in the top of the seventh to tie the game. Eric McGlauflin doubled and moved to third on a Steven Garber single. After Garrett Fort pinch ran for Garber, an error on Emporia’s pitcher scored McGlauflin and Fort would score on a subsequent error by the right fielder.
But in the bottom of the seventh, Austin Warren ran into trouble after a leadoff single, a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk. Andrew “Bex” Trout came in relief for Warren and walked the next batter to load the bases. Price Jacobs lifted a game-winning homerun in the next at bat to give ESU the win.
Brandon Huske, Garber, McGlauflin, Ryan Abernathy and Jon Pomatto all recorded hits for the Bearcats. Warren went 6.1 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits with a pair of strikeouts.
In game two, Northwest got solid pitching performances from Kole Klocko, Blane Reutter and Daulton Perry, all of whom allowed just one run in a combined eight-inning performance. Klocko, who started the game, allowed just three hits while striking out four in 4.1 innings.
Emporia State scored one in the first, one in the sixth and added an insurance run in the eighth. Northwest scored in the top of the seventh as Pomatto grounded out to score Nikko Pablo, who led off the inning with a walk. Huske, Austin Wulff, Alex Singleton and McGlauflin all recorded a hit for the Bearcats. Abernathy led Northwest, going 2-for-4 at the plate.
The series will conclude tomorrow at 1 p.m. against Emporia in a doubleheader. Northwest finishes the regular season against Pittsburg State next weekend, starting on Friday, April 25, at 2 p.m.
— Northwest Sports Information —