Hot Springs, Ark. – The Northwest Missouri State Bearcat baseball team suffered another close loss in game two of the day with a 4-2 loss against East Central.
 
East Central threatened in the first inning but left fielder Ryan Koski threw a laser to cut down the runner at the plate to keep the game scoreless.
 
After a ground out to start the bottom half of the first inning, Northwest loaded the bases with one out after three straight singles by Alex Bowers, DJ Heck and Ryan Williams but couldn't capitalize with any runs.
 
Northwest struck first in the bottom of the third on a two-out, one run double by Ryan Koski scoring DJ Heck. Koski and Heck led the Bearcats with two hits a piece on the day.
 
East Central responded in the top of the fourth, tagging Slocum with his first earned run of the game on a two-out single to right field. They added another run in the top of the fifth after a rundown allowed the runner from third to scamper home to take a 2-1 lead.
 
The Bearcats answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth when Evan Tocmo hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Trey Morris after Morris led off the inning with a single to left field.
 
East Central added another run in the ninth via a passed ball to stretch their lead to 4-2 and ultimately was the difference as the Bearcats fell 4-2.
 
Northwest stranded a season high 10 base runners on base.
 
Starting pitcher Alex Slocum was given the loss, Slocum went 5.0 innings giving up two earned runs and striking out five.
 
Casey Stalzer struck out four in 2.0 innings of relief work and only surrendered one earned run.
 
In this weekend's series Ryan Koski posted a .500 batting average going 7-for-14 including three doubles and a homerun. DJ Heck also had a very successful weekend slashing .429 going 6-for-14.
 
The Bearcats travel to Alva, Oklahoma next weekend for a four-game series starting Thursday Feb. 9th at Northwestern Oklahoma State.