WARRENSBURG, Missouri – While it took 10 innings to do so, the Northwest Missouri State baseball team snapped its 5-game losing skid with an 11-10 victory over MIAA-rival Central Missouri.
Alixon Herrera went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and Derek Hussey drove in four runs as the Bearcats. It is Herrera’s first four-hit game of his collegiate career at Northwest.
It’s Northwest’s first win in Warrensburg since March 8, 2015. Northwest’s last extra-inning victory came against UCM in Maryville when the Bearcats posted a 5-4 triumph on April 5, 2018.
During a quiet first two innings for the Bearcats (18-20, 14-11 MIAA), the Mules’ offense wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, crossing one run in the first and another in the second to take the early 2-0 lead.
Northwest answered in the top of the third inning by scoring one of its own, coming on a solo home run by sophomore infielder Matt Gastner and bringing the score to 2-1.
After retiring Central Missouri in the home half of the third, the Bearcats added three more runs to the scoreboard in the fourth, taking the lead away from the Mules, 4-2. Northwest recorded three hits during the inning and used successful small ball to move its runners around the base path. Senior infielder Mondesi Gutierrez stole home to record the final run of the inning.
Following stalemate innings in the fifth and sixth, both squad’s offenses heated back up in the seventh. For Northwest, senior outfielder Derek Hussey smacked a two-out, solo shot over the right field wall. Central Missouri answered with a run of its own after a one-out, two-bagger was hit by infielder Cole Taylor.
In the eighth, the Bearcats scored five runs on four hits to increase their lead to 10-3 over the Mules. Peter Carlson doubled to right center, recording the first RBI of the inning, scoring Quick. With the bases juiced, Hussey hit the second double of the inning and cleared the bases, scoring Jay Hrdlicka, Gutierrez and Carlson. A bases-loaded walk scored the final run of the top of the inning and gave Northwest a 10-3 lead.
Central Missouri scored four runs in the home-half of the eight to claw back at the Bearcat lead, 10-7.
After a three-up, three-down was recorded by Northwest in the top of the ninth, senior pitcher Trevor Dudar was brought in to attempt to complete the save for the Bearcats. Dudar gave up three runs (three earned) in his outing that allowed the Mules to send the contest into extra innings.
Senior catcher Alixon Herrera led off the 10th for Northwest, slapping a triple to right field. Herrera scored when Gutierrez grounded out to second. The Bearcats took back the lead, 11-10.
In the bottom of the 10th, sophomore Aaron Easley walked onto the bump to close out the ball game. He did just that, forcing Central Missouri into a one, two, three inning and giving Northwest the first win of the three-game series. Easley was credited with his first career save and Dudarr was awarded the win.
Sophomore Max Spitzmiller got the start on the mound for Northwest, giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out two. Spitzmiller went six and 1/3 innings on the hill.
Northwest and Central Missouri will play game two of the series Friday at 4 p.m. in Warrensburg.
Notes: Quick extended his team-high, 15-game hitting streak and his team-leading 22-game on-base streak … Alixon Herrera went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and notched his first four-hit game of his career … Derek Hussey batted in four RBIs.
— Northwest Athletics —