BOX SCORE (PDF)

MARYVILLE, Missouri - The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team saw its home opener spoiled by the Missouri Western State University Griffons on Tuesday in a non-conference matchup, 9-3.

Northwest (11-15 overall) has played its first 25 games of the season either on the road on a neutral field before taking to its home field Tuesday against the Griffons.

Northwest's Connor Quick went 3-for-3 at the plate as the Bearcats tallied seven total hits on the day.

The Bearcats scored the initial run of the game in the first inning. Following a one-out double by junior Calvin Rudolph, senior designated hitter Alixon Herrera drove him in with a two-out single.

After a quiet second and third inning for both squads, the Griffons added three in the top of the fourth, three in the top of the fifth and one in the top of the sixth to take the commanding 7-1 lead over the Bearcats.

Northwest added two more in the bottom of the seventh to claw back at the Missouri Western lead, 7-3. Senior infielder Logan Rycraft was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and moved to second on a Rudolph walk. Senior catcher Jay Hrdlicka singled and advanced to second on a Griffon error. Rycraft and Rudolph scored on the play.

Missouri Western notched two more runs in the top of the eighth and increased its lead back to six runs over Northwest, ultimately being the final score of the ball game.

Over the course of the game, six Northwest pitchers saw the mound including freshman Alex Slocum, senior Ross Davis, freshman Russell Simmons, junior Ethan Griswold, freshman Jacob Gill and junior Tristan Ledger.

Northwest will be back in action Friday to begin a three-game series with MIAA rival Washburn in Maryville.

NOTES: Herrera extended his hitting streak to seven games...junior first baseman Conner Quick and Herrera extended their team-leading on-base streaks to 10 games apiece