The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Central Missouri, 16-6, on Thursday afternoon at Crane Stadium in Warrensburg, Mo.
Northwest falls to 13-11 overall and 8-6 in MIAA play. The Mules improved to 13-8 overall and 11-3 in conference action.
The Bearcats got hits from eight different players and drew four walks on the day.
The game was called in the bottom of the eight due to the MIAA run rule.
Garrett Fort was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Ozzie Adams went 2-for-4 with a run. He had a two RBI double in the first. Nick Howard was 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI and one run. Aaron Barratt was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. James Holler was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a double. Nick Gotta, Kolby Greenslade and Derek Meyer each picked up a hit for Northwest. Meyer and Gotta each drew walks.
Joseph Hietpas started and went 6.0 innings. He allowed eight runs on 10 hits. Only five of the runs were earned. He walked two and struck out three.
With two down in the first, Adams doubled down the left field line and Lewis walked to bring up Howard. Howard responded with a double to left center, clearing the bases to put Northwest up, 2-0. Fort singled in Howard in the next at bat with a hit to right field to make it 3-0.
In the bottom of the second, UCM looked poised to take the lead after a leadoff single and a wild pitch put a runner on second with no outs. But Hietpas got a flyout to right and Barratt came up throwing, gunning down the runner trying to tag up and advance to third on the play. Hietpas got a first pitch flyout to center in the next at bat to end the Mules’ threat.
Barratt singled to lead off the seventh and went to second on a Gotta walk. Adams hit an infield single to load the bases with one out. Lewis grounded into a fielder’s choice as Adams was forced out at second. Gotta went to third and Barratt scored to make it 5-4 UCM.
Fort and Meyer led off the eighth with back-to-back singles. Handzlik came in to pinch run for Meyer. Holler hit an 0-1 pitch down the right field line for a double, driving in Fort. Barratt grounded out to third, scoring Handzlik from third.
The series continues with the Mules on Friday at 4 p.m. Game three is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday.
— Northwest Athletics —