The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team will take part in the MIAA/GLVC Crossover in Joplin, Mo.
 
Northwest (3-4 overall) is scheduled to play three games in the event beginning Saturday at 4 p.m. vs. Truman State. Northwest will square off against Illinois-Springfield Sunday at 3 p.m., followed by a Monday finale against Quincy at 10 a.m.
 
Each game will be on the MIAA Network (subscription based) and will feature free live stats.
 
Saturday, Feb. 19
Northwest Missouri State vs. Truman State, 4 p.m. | MIAA NETWORK | LIVE STATS
 
Sunday, Feb. 20
Northwest Missouri State vs. No. 21 Illinois-Springfield, 3 p.m. | MIAA NETWORK | LIVE STATS
 
Monday, Feb. 21
Northwest Missouri State vs. Quincy, 10 a.m. | MIAA NETWORK | LIVE STATS
 
Northwest posted a 2-2 mark at the Henderson State Invitational. The Bearcats picked up victories over Ouachita Baptist (W, 7-3) and St. Cloud State (W, 5-4). Northwest dropped both matchups against ranked opponents as No. 11 Southern Arkansas scored a 4-2 win and No. 18 Henderson State recorded a 16-6 triumph.
 
Junior outfielder Donovan Warren possesses Northwest's top batting average at .333. Warren has tallied eight hits (three doubles) and scored a team-best four runs. Warren has also drawn a team-high seven walks. Warren has a .942 OPS and a .484 on-base percentage. Warren has tallied two multi-hit games in 2022. Warren has reached base in seven straight contests.
 
Junior third baseman Brett Holden is batting .320 and is tied with Warren for the team-lead in hits (8). Holden is also tied with Warren for the team-high in runs scored (4). Holden has a pair of multi-hit games this season. Holden has gotten a hit in four consecutive games.
 
Junior first baseman Tyler Peters slugged Northwest's first home run of the season – a solo blast against No. 18-ranked Henderson State. Peters is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak.
 
The Bearcat pitching staff has produced a 4.68 team ERA through the first seven games. Northwest pitchers have recorded 60 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings pitched.
 
Sophomore right-handed starter Zach Wiese has a 1.80 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in his first two starts of the season. Wiese has allowed nine hits in 10 innings of work. He has struck out eight and walked only three batters.
 
Junior right-hander Max Spitzmiller has been impressive in both of his starts this season. Spitzmiller has a 2.45 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings pitched. He was named the MIAA Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 7).
 
Spitzmiller is tied for No. 9 all-time in pitching strikeouts for the Bearcats. Spitzmiller had six strikeouts in 2018, 52 in 2019, 27 in 2020, 46 in 2021 and 17 so far this season.
 
Northwest Career Pitching Strikeouts
1. 324, Joseph Hietpas, 2015-18
2. 267, Anthony Caenepeel, 2015-17
3. 256, Brad Roberts, 2015-18
4. 223, Scott Kurtz, 1966-69
5. 187, Tom Franke, 1977-80
6. 163, Bret Harvel, 2007-09
7. 153, Tom Franke, 1978-80
8. 152, Nikko Pablo, 2014-17
9. 148, Tom Funk, 1981-83
    148, Max Spitzmiller, 2018-pres.
 
Spitzmiller also ranks No. 10 on Northwest's career innings pitched chart. Spitzmiller has logged 167 innings pitched in his Bearcat career. Spitzmiller has logged 5.0 innings in 2018, 73.1 innings in 2019, 34.0 innings in 2020, 40.0 innings in 2021 and 14.2 innings so far in 2022.
 
Northwest Career Innings Pitched
1. 302.2, Joseph Hietpas, 2015-18
2. 294.1, Brad Roberts, 2015-18
3. 278.0, Anthony Caenepeel, 2015-17
4. 255.0, Tom Franke, 1977-80
5. 225.2, Chase Anderson, 2010-13
6. 215.0, Bret Harvel, 2007-09
7. 201.0, Dale Kisker, 1979-81
8. 193.0, Nikko Pablo, 2014-17
9. 190.1, Tom Funk, 1981-83
10. 167.0, Max Spitzmiller, 2018-pres.
 
Junior Alex Slocum led the Bearcats with five saves in 2021 and he picked up right where he left off last year. Slocum pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning that included two strikeouts to secure his sixth career save in Northwest's 1-0 victory over Ouachita Baptist (Feb. 5). With his next save, Slocum would join Northwest's top-10 list for career saves.
 
Northwest Career Saves
1. 23, Trevor Dudar, 2018-19
2. 17, Carson Smith, 2011-16
3. 15, Matt Goodman, 2000-01
4. 13, Brett Whittle, 2006-07
5. 12, Jayson Huett, 2010-11
6. 11, Nikko Pablo, 2014-17
7. 9, Evan Nickell, 2007-08
8. 8, Matt Coons, 2003-06
9. 7, Brett Rust, 2002
    7, Troy Newman, 1984-85
 
Bearcat skipper Darin Loe has produced 698 career wins in 28 seasons as a collegiate head coach. Loe has posted 542 victories for the Bearcats. When Loe reached 700 career wins he would become the 23rd active NCAA Division II coach with at least 700 victories. Only Pittsburg State's Bob Fornelli has picked up more wins as an active MIAA manager than Loe. Fornelli has posted 982 wins in coaching stops at Fort Hays State, Emporia State and Pittsburg State.
 
Loe's coaching stops have included Missouri Valley, Baker and Northwest. He has produced 24 20-win seasons and six 30-win campaigns as a collegiate manager.
 
Northwest Coaching Record
542-563 – Northwest (2000-pres.)
82-67 – Baker (1997-1999)
74-67 – Missouri Valley (1994-1996)