ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas – The Northwest Missouri State baseball team came up on the short end of an 8-6 decision to Ouachita Baptist on Saturday as the Bearcats closed their seven-game opening road slate.
 
The Bearcats built a 3-1 lead through six innings. Starter Max Spitzmiller went 2 1/3 innings and gave up only one run and not hits. Thomas Henrichs pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Henrichs gave up only two hits and struck out a batter as he helped stake the Bearcats to a two-run advantage.
 
Ouachita Baptist put up a seven-run seventh inning to take an 8-3. Bearcat pitchers walked in three runs in the inning and OBU capped the scoring with a three-run double by Aaron Studdard.
 
Northwest's ninth-inning rally came up short when the Bearcats left a pair of runners stranded on base. Derek Hussey started the ninth with his third hit of the game. Jay Hrdlicka followed with a single. Connor Quick singled up the middle to score Hussey and make it an 8-4 game. Quick's single extended his hitting streak to seven games in a row.
 
Alixon Herrera loaded the bases with a single to left. Peter Carlson was hit by a pitch and that allowed Hrdlicka to cross the plate and make it 8-5.
 
Enrique Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly to left that plated Quick and pulled the Bearcats to within two runs at 8-6 with only one out. Ryan Koski grounded into a fielder's choice and Calvin Rudolph popped out to first base to end the contest.
 
Northwest will travel to Joplin, Missouri, next weekend for three games. Northwest will take on Missouri-St. Louis (Fri., 4 p.m.), Missouri Southern (Sat., 4 p.m.) and Rockhurst (Sun., 10 a.m.).
 
NOTES: Derek Hussey went 3-for-4 with three runs scored … Alixon Herrera went 3-for-5 … Herrera has tallied a team-best 10 RBI this season … Jay Hrdlicka went 2-for-4 with two runs scored … Hrdlicka is batting .400 on the season with 12 hits in 30 at-bats … Connor Quick leads the Bearcats in hitting with a .438 average and 14 hits.