BOX SCORE (PDF)

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma – Connor Quick blasted a grand slam and a trio of Bearcat pitchers kept Northeastern State in check in an 8-4 Northwest victory on Friday.

The Bearcats (5-6, 1-0 MIAA) began the contest with a hot start during the top of the first, plating two runs. Mondesi Gutierrez led off with a walk and moved to third on a double from Derek Hussey down the right field line. Gutierrez scored on an RBI groundout from Jay Hrdlicka. Connor Quick singled through the right side to knock in Hussey and give Northwest a 2-0 lead.

Northwest threatened in the third with the bases loaded and no outs. But the RiverHawks wriggled free of the jam and kept the Bearcats off the board.

In the fifth, the Bearcat offense struck again with two more runs. Senior catcher Alixon Herrera smacked a double to deep right field to move Quick to third base, who reached on a fielding error. Sophomore infielder Peter Carlson single through the right side to score Quick and advance Herrera to third. Herrera scored when Carlson was caught stealing second to up the Bearcat lead to 4-0.

Quick belted a grand slam in the sixth to give the Bearcats an 8-0 cushion. Hrdlicka drew a two-out walk and set up the bases loaded situation for Quick.

Junior pitcher Quinten Van Ackeren got the start for Northwest and made his way into the seventh before he was relieved by Jarret Cronin. Van Ackeren was tagged for 10 hits and four runs but none of the runs were earned. Van Ackeren earned the win to improve to 2-0 on the year.

The River Hawks made an attempt to rally in home half of the seventh by scoring four runs but were silenced thereafter by reliever Ethan Griswold. Griswold got the final seven outs of the game and earned his second save on the season.

Northwest and Northeastern State will meet on Saturday for game two of the series at 2 p.m.

NOTES: Herrera is riding an eight-game hitting streak … Gutierrez, Hussey, Hrdlicka and Quick extended their on-base streaks to eleven games