The Northwest Missouri State baseball team dropped the final two games of its season opening series Saturday against Arkansas-Monticello, falling 8-7 in game one and 11-1 in the finale.

The Bearcats stand at 0-3 on the young season, as the Boll Weevils improve to 4-3 overall. Northwest continues its season opening road swing as they open MIAA play next weekend at Northeastern State.

In game one the Bearcats again fell behind early when UAM pushed one run across in the first inning. However unlike Friday, Northwest rallied limiting the damage to just one run before tying the game in the top half of the second.

The Boll Weevils would hold a 6-1 until the fifth when Northwest would battle back. Scratching away at the UAM lead, Northwest took the lead in the top of the seventh when Luke Lawyer doubled to left giving the Bearcats a 7-6 lead.

A solid pitching effort from Marcus Garrett and Chase Anderson helped Northwest hold the lead as the pair scattered nine hits over 7.2 innings and combined for six strikeouts.

In the bottom of the eighth UAM would tie the game, before a walk-off double ended the game giving the Boll Weevils the 8-7 comeback win.

Four different Bearcats recorded multiple hits while Eric McGlauflin led Northwest going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.

Game two belonged to the Boll Weevils as they scored 11 runs on 12 hits ending the game via run rule in the eighth inning.

Ryker Fox picked up the loss going four innings and scattering four hits while allowing just four runs. All four runs came in the first inning however before the junior settled in to pitch three scoreless innings.

Although a strong outing on the mound for the Bearcat hurlers in the finale, the UAM pitching staff was even better allowing just two hits over eight innings and striking out six.

Charlie Krueger and Ryan Abernathy recorded the only two hits for Northwest in the loss.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

A two game total of 30 hits and two stellar pitching performances lifted the Northwest Missouri State softball team to a sweep of the season opening double-header over St. Mary’s Saturday.

Jenna Creger got the ball in game one and started her senior campaign the best possible way. Creger threw four innings and racked up seven strikeouts giving up only two hits and did not allow a run to pick up her first win in 2013.

The bats were also alive for the Bearcats as they collected 13 hits and scored in every inning except the second. Jordan Ereth led Northwest in hitting as she went 4 for 5 and scored three runs. Stephanie Price added the power in game one as she belted a deep home run to left field in a four run third inning for Northwest.

Paige Blythe finished the game on the mound as the Bearcats won 11-3 in a six inning run rule.

Northwest picked up where they left off after game one as they scattered 17 hits over seven innings for a 10-2 win in game two.

Abby Vitosh was in the circle for the Bearcats and waited until the fourth inning to give up her first hit. Vitosh went five strong innings giving up three hits and one earned run posting five strikeouts. Morgan Brunmeier finished the final two innings and gave up two hits, one earned run and had one strikeout looking. Vitosh grabs her first win of the season.

First baseman Rachael Schmitz went 4 for 4 to lead Northwest in hitting in game two. Schmitz drove in two RBIs and added a run of her own. Kristin Uthe went 2 for 5 but added a long ball with a two-run home run in the first inning to get the Bearcats ahead early.

Kristine Labertew went 3 for 4 and scored three times as the Bearcats rolled past St. Mary’s 10-2 in game two.

Northwest will take their 2-0 record to Bentonville, Ark. for the Arkansas-Monticello 7-State Classic next weekend. The Bearcats will play six games against in-region schools starting Friday as they take on Concordia-St. Paul with first pitch schedule for noon.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

It was not the ideal start for the Northwest Missouri State baseball team as they fell in the season opener 19-7 to Arkansas-Monticello Friday afternoon.

The Bearcats fell to 0-1, as their bats picked up where they left off in 2012. Unfortunately their pitching struggled in the opener as the Boll Weevils improved to 2-3 on the young season.

UAM got off to a hot start in the bottom of the first, as the Boll Weevils batted around en route to an eight run first inning. Bearcat starter Blane Reutter was unable to get out of the first frame being charged with seven earned runs in 0.2 innings of work.

Being faced with a 10-run deficit the Bearcat offense came alive in the top of the third. Back-to-back singles from Luke Lawyer and Jon Pomatto set the stage for Brandon Huske who singled through the right side scoring both Lawyer and Pomatto.

One batter later, Ryan Abernathy scored on a sacrifice fly from Eric Swain after Abernathy had singled to load the bases for Huske. Abernathy led the Bearcats going 4-for-5 with two doubles in the loss.

After holding UAM scoreless in the bottom of the third frame the Boll Weevils’ offense pounded out six more hits to push their lead to 16-3. Austin Warren gave way to Pat Brady who managed to calm the UAM bats in 2.1 innings of work.

The Bearcats would again chip away in the seventh inning as JJ Baccari blasted a 3-run homer to right pulling the deficit to 19-6. However the UAM lead would be too much as the Bearcats were only able to scratch one more run across in the top of the ninth for a 19-7 final score.

Along with Baccari’s three RBIs, Huske also finished the afternoon with three RBIs pushing the final run across in the ninth. As a team the Bearcats finished with 10 hits, but left five on base and also committed three errors.

Jace Anderson and Tyler Barth combined to hold UAM scoreless over the final 2.1 innings.

UAM finished with 18 hits and left nine men on base in the win. Seven different Boll Weevils finished with multiple hits including three players with three hits. Bobby Bryan picked up the win for UAM going six innings and scattering five hits.

The Bearcats and Boll Weevils return to the diamond Saturday for a double-header starting at 11 a.m. Both games Saturday will be two nine inning games.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State soccer coach, Tracy Hoza, announced the commitments of three high school players and one junior college transfer Friday.

Local product Alyssa Stiens from Maryville High and Alexus Taylor from Lincoln Southeast in Lincoln, Neb., will join the Bearcats in 2013 as freshmen. Nene Nwaturuocha from Dowling High in West Des Moines, Iowa joined the Bearcats at semester.

The lone transfer in the class is Nicole Cronin, a midfielder from Hutchison Community College.

The four new Bearcats will improve the depth Hoza brought in last year, as she added eight on signing day and 11 more before the start of the 2012 season.

“This recruiting class with add more skill, speed and strengthen our already very competitive roster in 2013,” Hoza added.

Below is an alphabetical list of the 2013 Bearcat soccer class with comments from Coach Hoza:

Alyssa Stiens (Maryville, Mo.)
High School: Maryville HS  High School Coaches: Bayo Oludaja and Stuart Collins
Parents: David and Theresa Stiens
Notes: Stiens is a three-time first-team all-district midfielder and an all-state selection as a junior … she earned all-conference honors as a junior and sophomore and was tabbed honorable mention all-conference as a freshman … set the single-season school record for goals as a sophomore with 39, only to break her own record as a junior with 57 … holds the Maryville High career record for goals with 117 … was also voted Offensive Player of the Year all three seasons for the Spoofhounds … led Maryville to a Missouri State sectional appearance and a 16-3 record as a senior
Coach Hoza: “We are very happy to add a local standout soccer player to our Bearcat soccer roster. Alyssa will add speed and goal scoring capabilities to our forward line.”

Alexus Taylor (Lincoln, Neb.)
High School: Lincoln Southeast HS  Head Coach: Anna Trent
Parents: Monte and Shelly Taylor
Notes: Taylor was an all-state pick in 2011 before missing the 2012 high school season due to injury … was an all-city selection helping the Knights to a runner-up finish at the Nebraska State Championship … is also a letter winner on the hardwood helping Lincoln Southeast to a runner-up finish as the State Championships … led her club team, CSA Academy  18-under team to the Nebraska State Cup finals
Coach Hoza: “Lexi is a very strong athlete with fantastic defending skills. She is outstanding at winning her one-on-one battles during the game.”

Nene Nwaturuocha (West Des Moines, Iowa)
High School: Dowling HS
Parent: Rose Nwaturuocha
Notes:  Nwaturuocha was a four-year letter winner earning all-conference honors as a senior … helped the Maroons to the Iowa state playoffs twice  … played club for Johnston-Urbandale-West Des Moines winning the 2012 Iowa State Cup Championship … also spent two years playing for the Iowa 1994 Olympic Development Program
Coach Hoza: “Nene is a natural on the ball. She has good vision and is a great talent passing the ball.”

Nicole Cronin (Limerick, Ireland)
Previous School: Hutchison Community College
Notes: Cronin helped the Blue Dragons post a 15-1 record in 2012 falling in the Region VI Championship game … finished with 13 assists as a sophomore and two goals … tallied four goals in her freshman season … played at Ardscoil Mhuire High in Limerick, Ireland and also played for Munster under-19 team serving as team captain … Cronin represented the Republic of Ireland under-19 national team advancing to the 2010 European Championships
Coach Hoza: “Nicole is a very well rounded soccer player. She is gifted technically and tactically and has tremendous leadership on the field.”

— NWMSU Sports Information —