ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The comeback Griffs did it again on Sunday. The Missouri Western baseball team (17-15, 14-10) tallied six runs in the bottom of the eighth to clinch a season sweep of rival Northwest Missouri (17-19, 13-11) with a 7-6 victory.  MWSU won all three game this weekend, as well as a single game in March at Maryville.

Down 6-1 headed to the home half of the eighth, Nolan Monthei led off the inning with a pinch-hit triple and scored one batter later on Dusty Stroup’s single. Fahd Shakeel tripled for the second-straight day off Northwest pitcher Aaron Easley, driving in two. With two out, Casey Danley tied the game with a two-run single through the left side that got him to second on the throw and Will Jibas to third. With Monthei batting again, a wild pitch allowed Jibas to dash home for the winning run.

Jacob Miller closed it out for MWSU, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning on a strikeout and two ground outs. Carson Dwyre got the win in relief for the second straight day. He retired two of three he faced in the top of the eighth, but giving up a two-run home run to Derek Hussey.

The series sweep of Northwest pushed Missouri Western into a tie for third in the MIAA standings with Central Oklahoma, just a game back of Emporia State, which dropped two of three to Pittsburg State this weekend. The Griffons and Bronchos are three games back of Central Missouri and Missouri Southern who are tied for first.

Missouri Western travels to Pittsburg State (20-17, 13-11) for a three-game series April 18-20.

— MWSU Athletics —