The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team picked up a 7-4 win over Southwest Baptist on Saturday at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Mo.
Northwest improves to 20-17 overall and 15-12 in MIAA play. Southwest Baptist falls to 17-20 overall and 12-15 in conference action.
Brad Roberts got the start and went 7.0 innings. He did not allow an earned run on the day and struck out five batters while walking four.
Ozzie Adams went 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI, a run scored and a double. He was also hit by a pitch in the fourth and came around to score the game’s first run.
Saturday was Military Appreciation Day. Thank you to the Missouri National Guard who provided free food and t-shirts to the spectators.
Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored seven runs on 11 hits but committed three errors. Northwest got two in the fourth, three in the fifth and two in the seventh.
– All four of SBU’s runs came in the eighth. Southwest Baptist finished the day with four runs on seven hits with no errors.
– Nick Gotta scored two runs for Northwest, going 2-for-5 on the day with an RBI. He recorded a double, a triple and a stolen base.
– James Holler was 2-for-4 with an RBI. He also picked up a stolen base.
– Jay Hrdlicka went 1-for-3 with an RBI. He was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning.
– Kolby Greenslade went 1-for-4 with a run scored.
– Garrett Fort turned two walks in to two runs scored. He recorded his team-leading 14th stolen base in the fifth inning.
– Kevin Handzlik scored a run and drew a walk on the afternoon.
– Bryce Shea came on in relief in the eighth inning. He did not allow an earned run in the frame. He allowed one hit and recorded a strikeout without issuing a walk.
– Carson Smith got his fifth save of the year by working a perfect ninth. He struck out two batters while using just 11 pitches.
Key Northwest Innings
– Roberts worked perfect fifth and sixth innings for Northwest. He retired eight straight batters from the top of the third to the fifth.
– With two down and runners on first and second, Hrdlicka placed a well hit ball in the gap in left centerfield to drive in Adams, who started the inning by getting hit by a pitch. Handzlik, who drew a one-out walk, moved from first to third on the hit. In the next at bat, Northwest attempted a double steal. Hrdlicka was caught in a rundown but Handzlik was able to score from third before Hrdlicka was tagged out at first to make it 2-0 Northwest.
– With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Greenslade hit an infield single to first, beating the throw to the pitcher covering. Gotta came up next and pulled a ball down the right field line that got past the first baseman. Greenslade came around to score all the way from first and Gotta pulled into second with a stand up double. Fort drew a walk to bring up Adams. After Gotta and Fort each stole bases, Gotta hit a single to left to score Gotta and put runners on the corners. Holler hit an infield single to score Gotta to make it 5-0 Northwest.
– Gotta led off the bottom of the seventh with a triple that cleared the centerfielder’s glove and bounced to the wall. Fort followed it up by drawing a walk to put two on with no outs. Adams laced a ball to the right field fence for a double to drive in Gotta and Fort, but Adams was thrown out trying to take third on the play as Northwest took a 7-0 lead.
Up Next
– The series concludes at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 17.
— Northwest Athletics —