ST. JOSEPH – About 30 minutes after it was released that the Missouri Western baseball team was the No. 23 team in the country, the Griffons responded with eight runs in the first two innings on the way to a 12-2, eight inning win over Northwest Missouri State.

It was the Western’s eighth straight win after going 7-0 on the road last week. Missouri Western jumped on the Bearcats early as all nine came to the plate in a four-run first inning. Back-to-back doubles by Nick Gawley and Cosimo Cannella put the Griffons up 3-0. Two batters later Kody Matthews put the Griffons up four with an infield single. Gawley went 4-for-4 at the plate with seven RBIs, good for second most ever in a game for the Griffons. Matthews was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Cannella drove in three with a 2-for-4 day at the plate. Landon Mason stretched his hitting streak to 20 games, but was replaced after the first inning due to recurring eye problems.

Tyler Tuepker got the win in his first start since returning from Tommy John surgery in 2015. He picked up the win, going the first three innings and allowing three hits and two runs. David Anderson pitched three innings in relief, giving up two hits and no runs with four strikeouts. Jared Lloyd and Mike Calimeno went one inning apiece.

The Griffons finished the night tied with just Washburn for second place in the MIAA standings after Emporia State lost to Washburn. Missouri Western hosts Nebraska-Kearney this weekend for a three-game series that begins Friday night at 6 p.m .

— MWSU Athletics —