JOPLIN, Missouri – Northwest Missouri State split a doubleheader against No. 10-ranked Missouri Southern on Sunday.
Northwest (11-14 overall, 7-8 MIAA) took the opener, 6-3, but the Lions bounced back with a 16-7 triumph in the nightcap.
GAME ONE
Northwest scored three runs in the second. Senior catcher Alixon Herrera led off the inning by drawing a walk. Junior first baseman Connor Quick singled down the third base line. Senior infielder Mondesi Gutierrez reached on a fielder’s choice when his sacrifice bunt attempt turned into an out at third. Senior outfielder Derek Hussey reached on a fielding error and loaded the bases for the Bearcats. The first two runs came when junior infielder Matt Gastner doubled to left center, scoring Gutierrez and Quick. The third run came after senior infielder Logan Rycraft singled and scored Hussey. Northwest left the bases loaded.
Missouri Southern closed the Northwest lead to just one after recording two runs in the fifth.
The Bearcats added one in the sixth and two in the bottom of the seventh to increase their lead to 6-2 over the Lions. Small ball and successful base running assisted Northwest in controlling much of the game.
The Lions rallied to score one more in the top of the eight before being shut down by the Bearcats’ pitching staff in the the ninth.
Junior pitcher Quintin Van Ackeren got his team-leading third win of the season, going seven full innings while giving up three runs on six hits and adding four strikeouts.
Senior Trevor Dudar notched his fifth save on the season for the Bearcats.
GAME TWO
During the first inning, both squads got off to a hot start combining to score five runs. Heading into the second, Missouri Southern controlled a one-run lead over Northwest, 3-2.
After a three-up, three-down second inning, the Bearcats notched two more runs in the bottom of third after Quick tripled to right field, scoring junior infielder Calvin Rudolph and Herrera and took the lead over the Lions, 4-3.
Missouri Southern added two of its own in the top of the fourth after a two-run homer to left by senior outfielder Mike Million. The Lions retook the lead, 5-4.
Northwest bounced back in the home half of the fourth scoring one run and tying the game at 5-5.
The Lions would go on to plate three runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, four in the seventh and three in the eight to take a commanding lead over the Bearcats. Northwest would score two runs to counter in the seventh, but it just wasn’t enough to stop the Missouri Southern offense.
Northwest falls to 11-14 overall and 7-8 in MIAA play.
NOTES: Herrera extended his hitting streak to six games…junior first baseman Conner Quick and Herrera extend their team-leading on-base streaks to nine games apiece.
— Northwest Athletics —