TOPEKA, Kansas – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team saw its losing skid reach four games with a 10-7 non-conference road setback Wednesday to the Washburn University Ichabods.
 
Northwest is 6-10 overall, while Washburn is 7-10 on the year.
 
Junior Jacob Pinkerton led off the contest with a single to center. Sophomore Drew Mackie ripped an RBI triple to left center to place Pinkerton. It was only the second triple of the season for the Bearcat baseball squad. Mackie would score on an RBI groundout to second by senior Connor Quick to make it 2-0 in favor of the Bearcats.
 
Bearcat starting pitcher freshman Phil Brenneman was staked to a two-run lead and allowed a run in the bottom of the first as the Ichabods scored on a walk and a pair of singles. Brenneman was chased in the second as the Ichabods added four runs to take a 5-2 lead.
 
Brenneman worked 1 1/3 innings and allowed four hits, three walks and five earned runs.
 
Sophomore Alexander Lovin came on in relief of Brenneman. Lovin worked a scoreless third, but allowed two runs in the fourth as the Ichabods extended the advantage to 7-2.
 
Lovin surrendered a two-out solo home run in the fifth which gave Washburn an 8-2 lead. Lovin's day was closed in the fifth after 3 1/3 innings pitched. Lovin gave up seven hits and three runs (two earned), while walking one and striking out one.
 
Sophomore Brandin Hallier made his fourth relief appearance on the season in the bottom of the fifth and got the final out.
 
The Northwest offense got going again in the sixth. Sophomore Brett Holden doubled down the left field line with one out. Junior Peter Carlson singled up the middle to drive in Holden. But the Ichabods limited the damage by getting Pinkerton to ground into a fielder's choice with a pair of runners on base leaving Washburn on top, 8-3.
 
 The Ichabods pushed the lead back to six with a two-out solo homer in the bottom half of the sixth off Hallier.
 
Redshirt freshman Tanner Smith came on in relief in the seventh and was tagged for two runs as Washburn built the lead to 10-3.
 
Redshirt freshman Ethan Judd came through with a two-run double in the eight that scored Holden and Carlson. The 'Cats were not done as Drew Mackie drove home a pair with a two-out double to right to trim the Ichabod lead to 10-7. Mackie was thrown at third at the play.
 
Sophomore reliever Alex Slocum shut the door on Washburn in the bottom of the eight by striking out three Ichabod hitters.
Northwest looked ready to mount a rally in the ninth when Connor Quick led off with a single and Ryan Koski drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. However, Matt Gastner struck out and Brett Holden grounded into a game-ending double play.
 
Northwest will travel to Wichita, Kansas, for a three-game series with the Newman Jets. The Bearcats and Jets will play a single game Friday, followed by a doubleheader Sunday.
 
NOTES: Northwest scored in the first inning for the first time since putting up two runs in the first against Rogers State on March 12 … Northwest had scored five total runs in the first inning of games through the first 15 contests of the 2021 season … redshirt freshman Caden Diel stole two bases … Diel leads the team with four stolen bases this season … the Bearcats came into the contest having turned 17 double plays, which ranks tied for No. 5 in the nation among all NCAA Division II teams … Northwest turned double plays in the third and fifth innings to up its double play total to 19 on the season … Northwest recorded 10 hits … Drew Mackie went 2-for-5 with three RBI.