JOPLIN, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team delivered head coach Darin Loe his 700th career victory and snapped a seven-game skid with a 6-3 triumph over the Missouri Southern Lions in the final game of a three-game series.
 
Loe became the 24th active NCAA Division II coach to achieve 700 career wins. Loe has totaled 544 wins at Northwest after posting 82 wins at Baker and 74 at Missouri Valley.
 
Loe tabbed closer Alex Slocum the game three starter. Slocum (2-2) scattered four hits over seven innings as he delivered 88 pitches. Slocum struck out six and walked one. He was charged with two runs (both earned).
 
The Bearcats attacked early with a four-spot in the top of the first. Cole Slibowski was hit by a pitch for the sixth time this season as he led off the contest. Drew Mackie produced a one-out, RBI double to left center which allowed Slibowski to score from second. Alex Bowers drew a two-out walk to put runners on first and second for Jacob Pinkerton.
 
Pinkerton took MSSU starter Cole Woods deep to left center on the first pitch he saw for a three-run jack. It was Pinkerton's third home run of the season and fifth of his Bearcat career.
 
Southern got a run back in the bottom of the second on a two-out solo home run by Matt Miller.
 
Donovan Warren led off the third with a walk that chased Woods from the game. Alex Bowers singled to center and he and Warren each moved up an extra base on an error by MSSU center fielder Drew Davis. Pinkerton knocked in his fourth run of the game on a single to center that plated Warren and moved Bowers to third. Pinkerton was caught stealing, but Bowers scored on the play to give Northwest a 6-1 advantage.
 
MSSU clawed back with a run on a two-out triple in the bottom of the sixth.
 
The Bearcats had a chance to extend their lead in the seventh after a leadoff double by Mackie and a walk to Warren. After MSSU recorded two outs, Jordan Peck was hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, Ethan Judd struck out looking to end the inning.
 
Loe turned to Jacob Gajic in the eighth. Gajic allowed an unearned run and struck out two in the eighth. Gajic finished off the Lions in the ninth as he worked around a walk to secure his first collegiate save.
 
Northwest will return home Tuesday to take on Minnesota Duluth in a doubleheader beginning at noon at the Bearcat Baseball Field.
 
NOTES: Jacob Pinkerton posted his third three-hit game of the season and seventh of his career … Pinkerton set a career high with four RBI … Pinkerton entered Saturday's game with five RBI through 14 games played in 2022 … Drew Mackie tied his career high with three hits … it is the second three-hit game of Mackie's career … Alex Bowers scored a season-high two runs.