CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team's postseason hopes took a downturn Saturday in a 16-5, seven-inning loss to the Rogers State University Hillcats.
The Hillcats, who clinched a spot in the MIAA Tournament Friday, improved their record to 26-22 overall and 17-15 in MIAA games. Northwest fell to 18-27 overall and 12-20 in league action. Northwest can still clinch a spot in the MIAA Tournament with a victory on Sunday combined with an Emporia State loss to Central Oklahoma.
The Hillcats tallied 16 runs and off 14 hits, while Northwest scored five runs and registered 10 hits in the contest.
Bearcat starting pitcher
Zach Wiese retired the first two batters of the game, only to see the next eight Hillcat batters reach base as the home team accounted for five first-inning runs.
Northwest came back with its own two-out rally in the top of the second.
Ryan Koski got it started with a single to right.
Ryan Williams singled through the left side to move Koski to third.
Jake Emhardt delivered a two-RBI double to center to cut the RSU lead to 5-2.
Jacob Pinkerton cut into the margin with an RBI single up the middle to plate Emhardt. Pinkerton stole second before
Brett Holden walked to put two runners on base.
Drew Mackie became the sixth consecutive Bearcat to reach base when he singled through the left side to pave the way for Pinkerton to score and cut the Hillcat lead to 5-4.
Wiese worked his way into the third before being lifted by head coach
Darin Loe for reliever Josh Mitchell. Wiese worked 2 1/3 innings and allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits. Wiese struck out one and walked four as he faced a total of 17 batters.
Mitchell allowed a pair of singles along with a wild pitch as the Hillcats increased their lead to 8-4 before he got the home squad to bounce into a double play at first base.
Northwest tallied a run in the top of the fourth after Williams led off with a double to left center. Williams moved to third on a ground out to second by Pinkerton. Holden singled up the middle with two outs to score Williams and pull Northwest to within 8-5.
Bearcat reliever
Alexander Lovin was touched up for five runs in one-third of an inning pitched in the bottom of the fourth. The Hillcats took advantage of four walks and a hit off Lovin before he gave way to
Colin Shreves. The Hillcats would add seven runs total in the fourth to take a 15-5 lead.
Rogers State tallied yet another run in the bottom of the fifth to extend the margin to 16-5.
Shreves pitched 1 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs (all earned) on five hits and did not walk a batter.
Jonny McIntyre worked the sixth and did not allow a hit. McIntyre struck out one and walked one Hillcat.
Wiese took the loss to drop to 4-5 on the year.
Northwest and Rogers State will meet Sunday at 1 p.m. in the series finale.
Northwest can still clinch a spot in the MIAA Tournament with a victory on Sunday combined with an Emporia State loss to Central Oklahoma.
