Story Headlines- The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Emporia State, 5-4, on Friday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia, Kan.
- The Bearcats are now 18-18 overall and 13-12 in MIAA play. The Hornets improve to 24-9 and 15-9 in conference action.
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Key Northwest Statistics- The Bearcats scored one run in the first and three in the third. Northwest finished with four runs on seven hits with one error.
- Emporia State had five runs on nine hits with two errors. The Hornets scored twice in the first, once in the second and twice in the third.
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Paul Johnson was 2-for-4 with four RBI, including a three-run homer in the third.
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Nick Gotta was 1-for-4 with a double. He scored Northwest's first run of the game in the opening inning.
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Garrett Fort and
Derek Meyer both picked up hits and were both driven home on Johnson's home run in the third.
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Austin Wulff and
Kevin Handzlik also picked up a hit in the game.
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Anthony Caenepeel was saddled with his first loss of the season, going 4.2 innings in his ninth start of the season. Caenepeel allowed five runs on six hits. He had six strikeouts and allowed four walks.
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Austin Battaglia and
Patrick Brady combined to pitch 3.1 scoreless innings in relief to finish out the game. Brady had five strikeouts in 2.1 innings. Battaglia struck out two in his one inning of work.
Key Northwest Innings- Gotta led off the top of the ninth with a double to right field on a 1-1 pitch. After Fort grounded out, Gotta moved to third. Johnson singled down the right field line to score Fort to make it 1-0 Northwest.
- In the third, Meyer singled to lead off. With one out, Fort singled to left field, moving Meyer to second. Johnson took a 1-1 pitch to deep center field for his second home run of the season to make it 4-3 Northwest.
Up Next- The four game series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Both games will be seven-inning contests.
