MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Northeastern State University RiverHawks rallied from a four-run deficit in the eighth inning to score a 7-5, 15-inning victory over the Northwest Missouri State University baseball team in the finale of a three-game set.
The RiverHawks (18-11 overall, 8-8 MIAA) avoided a three-game sweep against the Bearcats (8-19 overall, 4-12 MIAA) with the extra-inning triumph.
Bearcat starter
Alex Slocum saw his stellar start go to waste in the eighth as the RiverHawks put up a four-run rally to knot the game at 5-5.
Slocum held the top hitting team in the MIAA to two hits through the first seven innings. Slocum was greeted in the eighth with a leadoff home run by NSU's Blake Freeman. Head coach
Darin Loe lifted Slocum for reliever Jake Mitchell.
However, Mitchell threw eight pitches, all for balls, and was removed from the contest for
Jacob Gajic. Gajic allowed a pair run-scoring singles and a run-scoring groundout before getting the final out of the eighth.Â
Gajic would go seven innings in relief allowing six hits and only one run (in the eighth). He faced 29 batters and struck out four.Â
Gajic gave way in the top of the 15th to
Alexander Lovin. Lovin allowed a leadoff double to Brayden Rodden and a bunt single to Blaze Brothers to begin in the 15th. Lovin appeared to pick off Brothers at first but an error by shortstop
Jacob Pinkerton allowed Rodden to score and give NSU a 6-5 lead. After a strikeout, Lovin uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Brothers to score from second on a wild pitch and up the lead to 7-5.Â
Ryan Williams reached on a two-out single to center in the bottom of the 15th. ButÂ
Caden Diel lined up to left for the final out to give the RiverHawks the victory.
Slocum went seven-plus innings and allowed only three hits. He struck out eight, while walking one batter.
A trio of Bearcats had multi-hit games in
Drew Mackie (2-for-4),
Ryan Williams (2-for-7) andÂ
Caden Diel (2-for-7).
Ryan Koski drove in two runs. Mackie reached base four times as he drew two walks. Mackie also stole two bases.
Northwest will return to MIAA play Tuesday at home against the Washburn Ichabods. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at the Bearcat Baseball Field.