The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Central Missouri, 10-3, on Thursday in the first round of the MIAA Championships in St. Charles, Mo.

Northwest falls to 24-27 overall while UCM improves to 35-12 on the year.

Kevin Handzlik was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

Nick Gotta went 1-for-3 with a run scored. His ninth inning walk tied him for the Northwest single season record with 45 on the year. He was also hit by a pitch.

Northwest jumped out quick, scoring three runs in the top of the first. The Bearcats finished the game with three runs on eight hits with one error.

Nikko Pablo threw 6.0 innings in relief. He struck out three batters and walked three. He worked perfect third and fifth innings, needing only five pitches to retire the Mules in the fifth.

Northwest will face the loser of the Missouri Southern vs. Missouri Western game which followed the Bearcats’ game. That elimination contest will be on Friday at 12:30 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —