TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma – The Northwest Missouri State baseball team dropped the second game of a three-game series to Northeastern State Saturday, 12-8. The Riverhawks hit four home runs on the afternoon.
After a scoreless first inning, the Bearcats (5-7, 1-1 MIAA) jumped out to a 1-0 lead after senior catcher Alixon Herrera doubled to right-center field to lead off the top of the second. Sophomore infielder Peter Carlson singled to right, scoring Herrera from second.
Northeastern State took the lead away from the Bearcats in the home half of the third inning, scoring four runs on three hits. Junior first baseman Colton Burgess hit a three-run homer over the right field fence to cap a four-run inning for the Riverhawks.
The Bearcats answered in the top of the fourth, scoring two runs of their own. Herrera led off the inning reaching on an error and then advanced to second base on a single hit by Carlson. Both runners advanced bases on a sacrifice bunt by junior infielder Calvin Rudolph. After a double play, senior infielder Logan Rycraft stepped in and doubled to deep right center, scoring Rudolph and Carlson
Northwest retook the lead in the fifth with a two-out, three-run rally. Rudolph walked with the bases loaded for the first run. Enrique Gonzalez came through with a two-run single through the left side to give Northwest a 6-4 lead.
But a four-run fifth by Northeastern State gave the home team an 8-6 advantage. The Riverhawks used a sacrifice fly and another three-run home run to retake the lead.
NSU increased the lead by another run in the sixth when the home squad plated a run on a double play.
Rudolph doubled with two outs in the seventh and then scored on a triple by pinch hitter Matt Gastner. Gastner’s RBI pulled Northwest to within 9-7.
NSU added a solo homer in the seventh, a leadoff homer in the eighth and a two-out RBI double in the eighth.
Pinch hitter Matt Schingel came through with an RBI single with two outs in the ninth. But the Bearcats could get no closer when Logan Rycraft flied out to end the contest.
The Bearcats used five pitchers on Saturday. Joe Funkhouser made the start and took the loss as he went 4 1/3 innings. Funkhouse gave up nine hits and eight runs, while striking out four.
Northwest and Northeastern State will meet on Sunday for game three of the series at 1 p.m.
NOTES: Herrera is riding a nine-game hitting streak … Gutierrez, Hrdlicka and Quick extended their on-base streaks to 12 games.
— Northwesst Athletics —