MARYVILLE, Missouri - The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat baseball team swept a doubleheader from Rogers State University by a pair of identical 5-2 margins.

The Bearcats (5-6 overall, 4-4 MIAA) used strong outings from starters Max Spitzmiller and Spencer Hanson paired with the lockdown relief from Alex Slocum to record two victories on Friday.

GAME ONE
Northwest rallied from a 2-0 first-inning deficit and posted three runs in the eighth to secure the opening victory, 5-2.

The Hillcats tallied three first-inning hits and touched up Northwest starter Max Spitzmiller for two runs. 

The Bearcats broke through on the scoreboard on an RBI single by Connor Quick that plated Brett Holden, who had reached on a one-out double. Quick's RBI pulled Northwest to within 2-1.

Northwest evened the contest at 2-2 on a sacrifice fly from Brett Mackie in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch hitter Tyler Peters started the rally with a leadoff single. The next three Bearcats - Jacob Pinkerton, Donovan Warren and Trevor Dooley - reached base setting the stage for Mackie's fly ball.

Spitzmiller tossed seven-plus innings allowing eight hits and two earned runs. Spitzmiller struck out three and had to settle for a no decision.

Alex Slocum came on in the top of the eighth after Spitzmiller allowed a pair of walks to start the inning. Slocum induced a ground-ball double play and ended the threat with a strikeout.

The Bearcat fed off Slocum's momentum which led to a three-run rally despite the fact that Northwest did not tally a hit in the eighth but batted around the entire order. Ryan Koski walked and he moved to second when an attempted sac bun by Peters. The RSU error left runners on first and second. The Bearcats again tried to bunt but Hillcats's first baseman Skyler Nelson dropped a toss to first allowing Koski to score from second. Warren lifted a sacrifice fly to right field for the second run of the inning. Dooley was hit by a pitch to reload the bases. RSU's Sean Craig then walked Mackie to force in Northwest's third run of the inning.

Slocum worked around a one-out walk in the ninth and claimed his second victory of the season.

Holden notched two of Northwest's eight hits in game one.

GAME TWO
The Bearcats limited the Hillcats to one hit in a 5-2 triumph.

Starter Spencer Hanson (2-0) worked 7 2/3 innings and allowed one hit, four walks and struck out four.

Hanson benefited from a stellar Bearcat defensive performance. Hanson hit the leadoff batter in the first that was erased by a double play. He walked the leadoff man in the second that was also erased by a double play. Hanson plunked his second RSU batter in the third, but another double play in the third ended any scoring threat.

Northwest came out on the offensive in the bottom of the first and scored two runs on three hits. Brett Holden led off with a walk. He moved to third on a single from Connor Quick. Ryan Koski delivered an RBI single to left that could have been worth two runs, but Quick was gunned down at the plate. Tyler Peters singled to center to plate Koski to gvve Northwest a 2-0 cushion.

Rogers State scored in the top of the fourth on a hit batter, walk, error and sacrifice fly. RSU's Skyler Nelson doubled with two outs for the only Hillcats hit of the game.

Northwest tacked on a single run in the bottom of the sixth on a squeeze bunt from Peter Carlson. Carlson came up with Mackie on third and Holden on first and he dropped down a bunt scoring Mackie to give Northwest a 3-1 lead.

Carlson added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth with a one-out two-run double to right center that scored Caden Diel and Mackie. Carlson's three-RBI game, gave Northwest a 5-1 lead heading to the ninth.

Head coach Darin Loe called on Alex Slocum to put out a Roger State rally in the eighth. Hanson hit his fourth batter and allowed a walk setting the stage for Slocum. Slocum came on with two outs and proceeded to strikeout RSU's Jonathan Soto to preserve the 5-1 lead.

Slocum allowed a run in the ninth on a walk, hit batter and a pair of fielder's choices, but Northwest would record the 5-2 win.

Koski went 2-for-5, Peters went 2-for-4 and Mackie went 2-for-3 to lead the Bearcat offense in game two. 

Saturday's finale will be moved up an hour and will start at 11 a.m. at the Bearcat Baseball Field.