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By David Boyce  |  Northwest Baseball at Southwest Baptist  |  Thursday (3 p.m.), Friday (2 p.m.), Saturday (1 p.m.)  |  Live Stats  |  Live Video (Friday)

MARYVILLE, Mo. - The first day senior right-hand pitcher Anthony Caenepeel stepped on the baseball field and met his new Northwest Missouri State teammates in the fall of 2014, he felt at home.
 
"I met a bunch of my teammates and it felt like I had been here the whole time," Caenepeel said. "They welcomed me with open arms. It has been a lot of fun."
 
Caenepeel spent his first college season at North Central Community College before transferring to Northwest. He quickly became the team's No. 1 starter in 2015, and last season was the workhorse. He threw a school record 104.2 innings.
 
A year ago, Northwest coach Darin Loe not only started Caenepeel in the weekend series, he sometimes had to use him in games during the middle of the week.
 
"Last year," Loe said, "he was a big reason for getting us back in the conference tournament."
 
With four solid starters this season, Loe has been able to reduce Caenepeel's innings. It gives him the luxury to have him rested for the beginning of weekend series against conference opponents.
 
For any team battling for a high finish in the MIAA, it is important to have your No. 1 starter well rested for the start of the series.
 
The Bearcats will start Caenepeel Thursday afternoon at Southwest Baptist in the most important series so far this season for Northwest.
 
Caenepeel, who was selected MIAA pitcher of the week on April 4, will carry a 5-4 record with 81 strikeouts in 70 innings into the first game of a three-game series. Northwest is currently 24-11 overall and 13-9 in the MIAA. Southwest Baptist is 24-11 and tied for second in conference at 14-8.
 
"They are the best hitting team in the conference, currently," said Caenepeel, who set the Northwest career record with his 225th career strikeout in a win over Pittsburgh State on March 31. "I get to start the first game. Hopefully, I get us off to a good start."
 
For many of the Bearcats, this will be the first trip to Bolivar. Last year Northwest didn't play at Southwest Baptist and two years ago Northwest didn't play Southwest Baptist at all.
 
"Our guys are going out and playing and not worrying about standings, streaks or anything like that," Loe said. "We are focused on the next inning in front of us."
 
From the first day Caenepeel arrived at Northwest, Loe has liked his approach and the way he goes about his work.
 
On the mound, Loe said Caenepeel is difficult to hit because he has a nice mix of fastball, curveball, slider and changeup and he can throw them all for strikes. Because of that ability, Caenepeel has equal success against right-handers and lefities.
 
"We knew he was solid," Caenepeel said. "We like his work ethic. He works hard and prepare during the week, trying to improve in all phases."
 
Caenepeel is one of several seniors who have lifted the Bearcats to their current level. Last season they finished eighth in conference and made the MIAA Tournament for the first time in several years. They also won a game in the conference tournament.
 
Seniors like Caenepeel, pitcher Nikko Pablo and outfielder Garrett Fort want more this year. They don't just want to make the conference tournament as the last seed. They want to finish in the upper half of conference and challenge for MIAA Tournament title.
 
 "I do see the confidence rising," Loe said. "The seniors want to be successful in their last year. The seniors are going out and getting the job done. They are not pressing and forcing the issue."
 
The Bearcats know they need to be ready for every conference game left on the schedule because the MIAA is well-balanced from top to bottom.
 
"Even the bottom four teams, maybe had a week or two they didn't play well, but they are beating people," Loe said. "We don't have that bottom half that is weaker that you can roll through and rest some people and things like that."
 
And that makes it really fun for the seniors, who are  close to wrapping up their school work and finals and will be able to just play baseball with their teammates in games that become increasingly more important.
 
"This is the most fun time of the year," Caenepeel said. "School is winding down and we can just focus on baseball. We are fortunate that we have put ourselves in position that we are going to play some big games in the next month and hopefully make a little run at the end. It will only get more fun as we go."