The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Central Missouri, 8-7, on Sunday afternoon at Crane Stadium in Warrensburg, Mo.
The Bearcats fall to an even 13-13 overall and 8-8 in the MIAA play. UCM improved to 15-8 and 13-3 in conference action.
The Bearcats pulled ahead in the sixth with a three-run inning. The Mules struck late, getting a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eight for the go ahead run.
All nine Bearcat hitters either reached base safely or drove in a run during Sunday’s game.
Northwest scored seven runs on 10 hits with one error. The Bearcats got four runs in the fourth and three in the sixth.
UCM scored two in the first, two in the second, three in the seventh and one in the eight. The Mules collected 12 hits and three errors.
Ozzie Adams was 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI. He hit his fourth double of the year in the sixth inning.
James Holler was 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.
Aaron Barratt went 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored. He drew a walk and also stole his fourth base of the year.
Jay Hrdlicka was 1-for-3 with a walk. He crossed the plate twice for the Bearcats.
Garrett Fort was 1-for-5 with a run scored. Nick Gotta went 1-for-3 and drew his MIAA leading 29th walk of the season.
Jake Lewis was 1-for-5. Kolby Greenslade got a pair of RBI and also scored a run.
Brad Roberts started the game for Northwest, going 7.0 innings. He allowed seven runs on nine hits. He walked three and struck out five.
Carson Smith pitched the eighth inning. He allowed one run on three hits. He walked a batter and recorded a strikeout.
Fort led off the Northwest third inning with a single to left and Holler followed it up with a four-pitch walk. Hrdlicka laid down a bunt that the pitcher couldn’t field, loading the bases with no outs. Barratt ripped a double to deep left, scoring Fort and Holler to make it 4-2 UCM. Two batters later with one out, Greenslade grounded out to short, allowing Hrdlicka to score to close the lead to 4-3. Adams tied the game as he hit a grounder to third that was bobbled. Barratt came in from third to tie the game, 4-4.
With the score tied, 4-4, Roberts worked a perfect fifth inning, getting a strikeout, a ground out and a line out.
Hrdlicka and Barratt drew back-to-back walks to leadoff the sixth inning for Northwest, prompting a UCM pitching change.Gotta squared around to lay down a sacrifice bunt but for the second time in the game, the Mules’ pitcher was unable to handle it, allowing all the runners to reach safely. Greenslade drove in the go ahead run by scoring Hrdlicka on a fielder’s choice to short. With one down and runners on the corners, Adams laced a ball down the left field line for a double, scoring both runners to put Northwest up, 7-4.
Northwest returns home to face Nebraska-Kearney on Wednesday, March 30, at 2 p.m. The Bearcats will host Pittsburg State starting on Friday, April 1.
— Northwest Athletics —