JOPLIN, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team surrendered six home runs in an 8-6 setback in game two of a three-game set at Missouri Southern.

The Lions (11-7 overall, 3-2 MIAA) handed the Bearcats (4-11, 0-5 MIAA) their seventh straight defeat.

Northwest staked starter Zach Wiese to a two-run first-inning advantage. Cole Slibowski was hit by a pitch to lead off the game. Brett Holden sacrificed him to second. Drew Mackie reached on a throwing error that allowed Slibowski to score the game's first run. Alex Bowers reached on another MSSU error as Mackie was able to trek around the base paths and score to put Northwest up 2-0.

The Lions began to attack in the bottom half of the first as Tommy Stevenson hit his first home run of the game. Jordan Fitzpatrick homered to right center to knot the game at 2-2.

MSSU added two more solo homers in the second from Ryan Doran and Matt Miller. Stevenson added an RBI single to chase Wiese from the game and give MSSU a 5-2 lead.

Doran hit his second homer of the game with two outs in the third to push the MSSU margin to 6-2.

The Lions pushed across one more run without the benefit of a homer in the fourth for a 7-2 advantage. 

Northwest's Jordan Peck got into the long-ball business with a solo homer to right to lead off the top of the fifth.

Stevenson launched his second home run of the game and 10th on the season with one out in the sixth to up the lead to 8-3 in favor of the Lions.

In the seventh, Alex Bowers singled to left and Jacob Pinkerton followed with a single through the left side to give Northwest runners at first and second with no outs. Peck delivered a two-run double down the right field line to cut the lead to 8-5. Caden Diel sacrificed Peck to third. Peck was cut down at the plate on a fielder's choice after pinch hitter Layne Shiers hit a shot to third.

In the ninth, Pinkerton walked and Peck singled to give Northwest a shot at a comeback. But Diel bounced into a double play that scored Pinkerton and Shiers lined out to shortstop to end the threat and the game. 

Peck went 3-for-4 with three RBI. Pinkerton scored a team-best two runs.

Alexander Lovin pitched 5 1/3 innings in relief of Wiese. Lovin allowed seven hits and three runs, while striking out three MSSU batters. Jacob Gajic pitched the eighth and allowed one hit with a strikeout.

MSSU out-hit Northwest, 13-5.

Northwest and MSSU will complete the three-game set Saturday at 1 p.m.