MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team dropped the third game of its MIAA-opening series with the University of Central Missouri at the Bearcat Baseball Field, 13-9.

The Mules (8-3 overall, 3-0 MIAA) scored the final five runs of the game to secure the four-run victory. 

The Bearcats (4-9 overall, 0-3 MIAA) tallied nine runs on six hits. The Bearcats used six different pitchers in the Monday matinee.

For the second straight day, UCM bounced out to a 4-0 lead. The Mules scored three in the second and one in the third to take the four-run advantage.

Northwest batted around in the third to plate six runs on the benefit of four hits, two walks and a hit batter. Donovan Warren drove in the first run on a sacrifice fly. Drew Mackie delivered a bases-loaded single to plate Caden Opfer for the second run. Caden Diel kept the merry-go-round alive with an infield single to shortstop that scored Brett Holden. Ryan Koski scored on a passed ball to even the contest at 4-4. Ethan Judd drove in Mackie with another sacrifice fly and Alex Bowers completed the six-run inning with a single up the middle to plate Diel.

UCM knotted it up at 6-6 on a solo homer from second baseman Jack Schark and an infield groundout by designated hitter Cole Moore off Bearcat reliever Kade Barrick.

Barrick got touched up for another solo home run in the fifth when UCM's Sam Tatum hit a drive to left. Tatum's homer put the Mules on top, 7-6.

Northwest drew two walks in the bottom of the fifth that set the stage for an RBI single by Alex Bowers. However, Diel was cut down at the plate to end the inning with the score tied, 7-7.

Schark hit his second solo blast of the day to left-center in the top of the sixth off Alexander Lovin. Lovin then retired the next three batters to end the inning.

The Bearcats drew even again and scored the go-ahead run with a two-run rally in the sixth. Cole Slibowski worked a leadoff walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Caden Opfer struck out but reached on a wild pitch as Slibowski advanced to third on the play. Slibowski scored on a wild pitch and Opfer moved to third as the throw got away from the UCM catcher on the play at the plate. Brett Holden and Warren drew back-to-back walks to load the bases with nobody out. Koski hit into a double play, but Opfer scored to give Northwest a 9-8 lead.

Lovin worked a 1-2-3 seventh to keep the 'Cats in the lead. Lovin worked two innings and allowed only the solo homer, while striking out two Mules.

Northwest had a chance to extend the lead in the seventh but could not take advantage of two walks to leadoff the inning.

UCM drew level at 9-9 in the eighth off Northwest closer Alex Slocum. Slocum surrendered the tying run on a sacrifice fly.

The Bearcats were unable to score in the eighth.

UCM had four of its first five batters reach in the ninth off Slocum and touched him up for four runs before he exited for Josh Mitchell. 

Diel drew a one-out walk in the ninth, but Layne Shiers bounced into a game-ending double play.

Northwest will hit the road next weekend for a three-game set at Pittsburg State.

NOTES: UCM pitchers combined for 10 wild pitches, including five from Josh Bortka ... Caden Opfer hit leadoff and went 2-for-5 with two runs scored ... Alex Bowers played third and went 2-for-4 with two RBI ... Brett Holden drew three walks ... Caden Diel with 1-for-2 and walked three times ... Slocum suffered the loss to drop to 1-2 on the year.