ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team started its three-game series against Missouri Western Friday afternoon. 

The Griffons (7-24 overall, 4-17 MIAA) outscored the Bearcats (13-21 overall, 7-14 MIAA) by a count of 7-6. Max Spitzmiller took the loss as he fell to 4-6. 

The Griffons took a 2-0 lead heading into the second inning. In the top of the second, Jake Emhardt and Caden Diel each recorded an RBI, making the score 2-2.

The Griffons went on to score four more runs and the Bearcats found themselves down 6-2. 

After a passed ball and a sacrifice fly by Caden Diel, Jake Emhardt made it to third base in the top of the sixth. Jacob Pinkerton scored Jake Emhardt on a sacrifice fly allowing Northwest to narrow the Western lead to 6-3. 

The Bearcats brought the game back to within one run after Pinkerton hit a three-run shot down the left field line. 

That would be the last of the runs for the day as Western took the win by a score of 7-6. 

Northwest returns to the diamond tomorrow at 1 p.m. as they take on Western in game two of the series.