MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team came out on the short end of an 8-5 decision Sunday in the second game of a three-game series with the University of Central Missouri. 

The Mules and Bearcats combined to commit nine errors in the contest.

UCM (7-3 overall, 2-0 MIAA) tallied six hits and scored eight runs (two earned).

Northwest (4-8 overall, 0-2 MIAA) posted five hits and five runs (three earned).

Bearcat starter Zach Wiese (0-1) did not allow a hit through the first four innings. Wiese would go 5 1/3 innings pitched. He allowed four hits and five runs (one earned). Wiese struck out five while walking only one Mule batter.

Northwest had a chance to break through in the bottom of the fourth as it loaded the bases via a hit batter and two walks. But Josef Keilholz hit a comebacker to the pitcher to end the threat.

The Mules struck for four runs in the top of the fifth as they took advantage of a Bearcat error. Wiese struck out the first batter before allowing a double and a walk. After a flyout left runners on second and third, Wiese induced a ground ball to third. However, Brett Holden threw the ball away on his toss to first allowing the Mules to score a run. Harrison Schnurbusch made the 'Cats pay with a three-run shot to center to put the Mules on top 4-0.

The Bearcats then returned the favor by scoring four in the bottom half of the fifth. Northwest loaded the bases with one out after Caden Opfer drew a walk, Cole Slibowski reached on an error by the UCM pitcher on a sacrifice bunt attempt and Holden worked a walk. Donovan Warren singled through the right side to drive home Opfer to cut the lead to 4-1. Ryan Koski doubled to left center to plate Holden and Slibowski. Caden Diel was hit by a pitch to keep the inning going. Kielholz reached on an error by UCM second baseman Donovan Ditto to get Warren across the plate and even the game at 4-4.

Wiese worked into the sixth and allowed two singles with one out when he exited the contest. Head coach Darin Loe brought in Josh Mitchell out of the bullpen. Mitchell allowed a two-out single to right that gave the Mules a 5-4 advantage.  

The Bearcats put two runners on again in the bottom of the sixth, but Warren grounded into his second double play of the game to end the inning.

Northwest turned to Jacob Gajic for his sixth outing of the season in the top of the seventh. Gajic would work the final three innings and allow only one hit along with a walk. However, he was not helped by the Bearcat defense as the Mules scored three unearned runs to push the lead to 8-4.

Northwest tallied a single run in the bottom of the eighth to pull within three runs. Slibowski drew a one-out walk and stole second. Holden drove in Slibowski with a two-out single to right center.

Northwest mounted a charge in the ninth when Ryan Koski reached for the fourth time in five at-bats with his second walk of the day. Drew Mackie flew out and Caden Diel reached on a fielder's choice to replace Koski on the base paths. Keilholz reached on an error by UCM's Schnurbush, but Opfer struck out as he represented the tying run.

Northwest and UCM will wrap up the three-game series Monday at 1 p.m. at the Bearcat Baseball Field.