The Northwest Missouri State baseball team is preparing to travel to Edmond, Oklahoma, to begin a three-game series with the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos. The series was originally supposed to be played in Maryville but due to inclement weather, it has been moved to Edmond.


Fri., March 1
Northwest at Central Oklahoma (DH), 1 p.m.
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Sat., March 2
Northwest at Central Oklahoma, 1 p.m.
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The Bearcats (6-7, 2-1 MIAA) have relied on strong hitting throughout this early part of the season. Northwest has four starters among the top hitters in the MIAA in base knocks. Senior outfielder Derek Hussey ranks tied for second in the MIAA in hits (21). Senior catcher Alixon Herrera and junior first baseman Connor Quick are tied for fifth in the league in base hits (20). Senior catcher Jay Hrdlicka is also in the top-10 in the MIAA in hits (18).

Senior infielder Mondesi Gutierrez and Hrdlicka are riding 13-game on-base streaks. Herrera will look to extend his present hitting streak to 11 games.

Just 13 games into the 2018-19 season, Quick leads the squad with a .408 batting average. Quick has 20 hits in 49 at bats and has hit a team-high two home runs. Quick owns a .633 slugging percentage and a .492 on-base percentage. Herrera and Quick have each tallied six extra-base hits to lead the squad.

Junior pitcher Quinten Van Ackeren is the top Bearcat starting pitcher with 23 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings pitched. Van Ackeren is 2-0 with a 4.15 earned run average.

The Bronchos are in the midst of a three-game losing skid, after being swept by Missouri Southern. Central Oklahoma is 6-5 and 0-3 in MIAA play.