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EMPORIA, Kansas – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team clinched a spot in the 2019 MIAA Tournament with a 4-3 road victory over Emporia State on Friday.
 
Northwest (21-25 overall, 16-15 MIAA) used a three-run homer from Connor Quick and a strong performance from starter Max Spitzmiller to earn a spot in the eight-team tournament that will begin next week in Pittsburg, Kansas.
 
Spitzmiller tossed 118 pitches in 6 1/3 innings of work as he improved to 3-6. Spitzmiller scattered four hits and struck out five while allowing two earned runs.
 
Spitzmiller was staked to the lead when Quick hit his three-run blast in the sixth. Logan Rycraft led off with a walk and Peter Carlson laced a single down the left field line. Calvin Rudolph pulled off a successful sacrifice bunt to move up both runners and set the table for Quick's dinger.
 
Aaron Easley relieved Spitzmiller with one out and two runners on in the seventh. Easley induced an RBI groundout and a flyout to end the inning and keep the Bearcats on top, 4-3.
 
Northwest added a key insurance run in the eighth. Rudolph walked and moved to second on a Quick groundout. Alixon Herrera lifted a fly ball to right that allowed Rudolph to move up another 90 feet. Matt Gastner delivered a two-out RBI single to center that scored Rudolph and gave Northwest a 4-2 advantage.
 
Head coach Darin Loe turned it over to closer Trevor Dudar to get the final six outs. Dudar allowed a double and a run scoring single with one out in the eighth but wriggled free of a jam when he picked off a runner at first. Dudar then worked a worry-free ninth for his ninth save of the season.
 
Northwest will take on Emporia State Saturday at 1 p.m. at Trusler Field.
 
NOTES: Quick extended his consecutive on-base streak to 30 games … Quick notched his fifth three-RBI game of the season … Gastner secured his fourth three-hit game this year.