The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team will embark on MIAA play with a three-game set at Northeastern State this Friday and Saturday in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Northwest Missouri State at Northeastern State
Friday, Feb. 26 | Rausey Field | Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Game Three, 1 p.m. –
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NSU RADIO
Saturday, Feb. 27 | Rausey Field | Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Game One, 10 a.m. –
LIVE STATS |
NSU RADIO
Game Two, 1 p.m. –
LIVE STATS |
NSU RADIO
Northeastern State holds a 26-16 lead in the all-time series with Northwest. The RiverHawks posted a 2-1 mark against the Bearcats last season in a three-game set in Maryville. In Northwest's last trip to Tahlequah, in 2019, the Bearcats picked up a 2-1 series triumph.
The Bearcats (1-2 overall) split a two-game series with Minot State in Pittsburg, Kansas, before falling to Pittsburg State in a non-conference matchup this past Monday and Tuesday.
Sophomore
Ryan Koski is off to a hot start with a .545 batting average. Koski recorded two hits in each of the three games to begin the season. He leads the team with six hits and his tied for the team lead in doubles (2). Koski has seven career multi-hit games for Northwest.
Junior
Peter Carlson delivered a two-homer game in the opening game vs. Minot State. Carlson leads the team in runs scored (4) and is tied for team-best honors with four RBI through three contests.
Junior
Matt Gastner recorded at least one hit in each game to extend his hitting streak to 10 straight games dating back to 2020. Gastner delivered a hit in each of Northwest's last seven games of 2020 before seeing the season end due to COVID-19. Gastner is also tied for the team lead with four RBI. Gastner is slugging a Bearcat-best .917 with a double, a triple and a home run among his five hits.
Sophomore Nebraska transfer
Drew Mackie earned a pair of starts on Tuesday and delivered three hits in seven at bats (.429). Mackie scored three runs, knocked in three and recorded a pair of doubles.
Junior starters
Max Spitzmiller and
Spencer Hanson delivered a pair of solid outings in their 2021 debuts. Spitzmiller worked six innings and struck out 11 Minot State batters. Spitzmiller allowed six hits and three earned runs in Monday's outing. Hanson earned Northwest's first win of the season with a 10-strikeout performance against Minot State. Hanson went 5.0 innings and gave up only one hit and an earned run. He limited the Beaver batters to an .063 batting average in Northwest's 13-4 victory.
Head coach
Darin Loe picked up career victory No. 683 in Tuesday's 13-4 triumph over Minot State. Loe is Northwest's all-time wins leader with 527. Loe is one of five head coaches all-time to reach 500 wins in the MIAA.
