Friday, April 28
Rogers State at Northwest Missouri State, 3 p.m. | WATCH (MIAA NETWORK) | LIVE STATS
 
Saturday, April 29 (Senior Day)
Rogers State at Northwest Missouri State, 2 p.m. | WATCH (MIAA NETWORK) | LIVE STATS
 
Sunday, April 30
Rogers State at Northwest Missouri State, 1 p.m. | WATCH (MIAA NETWORK) | LIVE STATS
 
The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team will wrap up MIAA action this weekend with a three-game series against the Rogers State University Hillcats.
 
The Bearcats will also celebrate Senior Day on Saturday Northwest head coach Darin Loe will honor eight seniors prior to the first pitch of game two in the series.
the following seniors before the first pitch:
 
RHP Max Spitzmiller (St. Charles, Mo.)
RHP Alexander Lovin (Columbia, Mo.)
OF Caden Opfer (Omaha, Neb.)
LHP Jace Davidson (Fort Dodge, Iowa)
RHP Colin Shreves (St. Louis, Mo.)
OF Ryan Koski (Kearney, Neb.)
RHP Alex Slocum (Liberty, Mo.)
Graduate Assistant Eric Chambers (Des Moines, Iowa)
 
Northwest (12-32 overall, 9-21 MIAA) can reach a tie for eighth place in the standings with a three-game sweep of Rogers State (24-19 overall, 12-18 MIAA), along with some help in the form of losses from Emporia State (11-19 MIAA), Fort Hays State (10-20 MIAA) and Missouri Western (10-20 MIAA).
 
2023 MIAA Standings (as of April 26)
Team                       Record (Games Remaining)
Central Missouri      24-6 (3 games vs. Fort Hays State)
Missouri Southern   23-7 (3 games at Missouri Western)
Pittsburg State        20-10 (3 games vs. Washburn)
Washburn               19-11 (3 games at Pittsburg State)
Central Oklahoma  16-14 (3 games at Emporia State)
Newman                 13-17 (3 games at Northeastern State)
Northeastern State 13-17 (3 games vs. Newman)
Rogers State          12-18 (3 games at Northwest Mo. St.)
Emporia State         11-19 (3 games vs. Central Oklahoma)
Fort Hays State       10-20 (3 games at Central Missouri)
Missouri Western    10-20 (3 games vs. Missouri Southern)
Northwest Mo. St.    9-21 (3 games vs. Rogers State)
NOTE: Top eight teams qualify for the 2023 MIAA Tournament.
 
Northwest collected a 13-6 home non-conference win over William Jewell on Tuesday. The Bearcats used seven extra-base hits, including three homers to even the season series with the Cardinals.
 
The Northwest pitching staff ranks No. 13 in the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.61).
 
The Bearcat pitching staff ranks tops in the MIAA and No. 18 in the nation in fewest walks per nine innings (3.34).
 
Senior Max Spitzmiller leads the MIAA in innings pitched (72 2/3). Spitzmiller has walked 16 batters, while striking out a team-best 65 hitters. Among NCAA Div. II active pitchers, he is the leader in games started (54) and innings pitched (326). Spitzmiller ranks No. 3 in strikeouts among active D-II pitchers (289). Among active pitchers in all NCAA Divisions, Spitzmiller ranks No. 2 in games started (54) and No. 2 in innings pitched (326).
 
Spitzmiller and fellow senior Alex Slocum are tied for fifth in the nation with 13 starts on the mound this season.
 
Spitzmiller holds the Northwest school record for innings pitched in a career. He has tossed 326 innings, which surpassed the hold mark of 309 2/3 innings pitched by Joseph Hietpas (2015-18). Slocum ranks No. 10 with 192 2/3 innings pitched in his Bearcat career.
 
NORTHWEST CAREER INNINGS PITCHED
1. - Max Spitzmiller, 2018-pres. – 326.0
2. - Joseph Hietpas, 2015-18 - 309.2
3. - Brad Roberts, 2015-18 - 294.1
4. - Anthony Caenepeel, 2015-17 - 278.0
5. - Tom Franke, 1977-80 - 255.0
6. - Chase Anderson, 2010-13 - 225.2
7. - Bret Harvel, 2007-09 - 215.0
8. - Dale Kisker, 1979-81 - 201.0
9. - Nikko Pablo, 2014-17 - 193.0
10. Alex Slocum, 2019-pres. - 192.2

Spitzmiller ranks No. 2 on Northwest's all-time strikeout chart with 287 batters punched out. Spitzmiller has tallied six 11-strikeout games in his Bearcat career. He has posted eight 10-plus strikeout performances for Northwest.
 
NORTHWEST CAREER STRIKEOUTS
1. - Joseph Hietpas, 2015-18 - 324
2. - Max Spitzmiller, 2018-pres. – 289
3. - Anthony Caenepeel, 2015-17 - 267
4. - Brad Roberts, 2015-18 - 256
5. - Scott Kurtz, 1966-69 - 223
6. - Tom Franke, 1977-80 - 187
7. - Alex Slocum, 2019-pres. – 165
8. - Bret Harvel, 2007-09 - 163
9. - Tom Franke, 1978-80 - 153
10. - Nikko Pablo, 2014-17 - 152

Spitzmiller ranks tied for No. 7 on Northwest's all-time pitching appearances list with 59 games pitched. He also ranks tied for No. 5 in career complete games with nine. Slocum ranks No. 3 in appearances with 69.
 
NORTHWEST CAREER PITCHING APPEARANCES
1. - Jacob Wagner, 2015-18 - 87
2. - Nikko Pablo, 2014-17 - 82
3. - Alex Slocum, 2019-pres. - 69
4. - Carson Smith, 2012-16 – 68
5. - Brad Roberts, 2015-18 - 61
6. - Joseph Hietpas, 2015-18 - 60
7. - Max Spitzmiller, 2018-pres. - 59
8. - Austin Battaglia, 2015-17 - 58
9. - Brian Greunke ,1987-90 - 56
10. - Chase Anderson, 2010-13 - 54
 
NORTHWEST CAREER COMPLETE GAMES
1. - Tom Franke, 1977-80 - 25
2. - Dale Kisker, 1979-82 - 21
3. - Tom Funk ,1978-80 - 18
4. - Bob Lord, 1978-81 - 11
5. - David Pfeiffer, 1978-79 - 9
Steve Nelson, 1986, 88-89 - 9
Max Spitzmiller, 2018-pres. - 9
8. - Brian Lamers, 2006-07 - 8
Joe Russel, 2000-01 - 8
Kyle Janssen, 1997-2000 - 8
Terry Marquardt, 1984-85 - 8
Bob Hoeg, 1981-82 - 8
Bret Harvel, 2007-09 - 8
Anthony Caenepeel, 2015-17 – 8
 
Slocum leads the Bearcat pitching staff with a 4-4 mark and a 5.15 earned run average. Slocum ranks No. 12 in the MIAA in starting pitcher's ERA (5.15). Slocum has made 13 starts and has pitched 64 2/3 innings. He has struck out 62 batters, while allowing only 15 walks. On March 27 at NSU, Slocum went the distance as he struck out a career-high tying eight. It is the third time in his career that Slocum has struck out eight batters. Slocum scattered four hits and two runs (one earned) in his second career complete game.
 
Slocum ranks No. 3 in program history in pitching appearances by a Bearcat with 69. Slocum's 69 appearances rank No. 9 among active NCAA Div. II baseball pitchers. Slocum ranks No. 7 in in the Bearcat record book with 165 career strikeouts in 192 2/3 innings of work at Northwest.
 
Sophomore Cole Slibowski leads the Bearcats in batting average (.340) and stolen bases (10). He ranks No. 34 in the MIAA in batting average. Slibowski has reached base safely in 34 consecutive games entering this weekend's series with Rogers State. He has posted 12 multi-hit games this season. He is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak.
 
Senior Ryan Koski is sizzling at the plate over his last four games. Koski is 9-of-14 (.643) with 13 RBI in his last four games. Koski's slugging percentage over his last four games is 1.500 with three doubles and three home runs.
 
Koski is slashing .340/.446/.680 with team-highs in home runs (12), runs (36), doubles (12) and RBI (55). His 55 RBI this season rank tied for No. 5 in a single-season in school history. His 12 home runs rank tied for the ninth-most in a single-season in program history. Koski has registered a team-best 15 multi-hit games. He has also tallied 14 multi-RBI games. Koski ranks No. 7 in Bearcat history with 123 career RBI. Koski has also contributed defensively with a team-best seven outfield assists.

NORTHWEST SEASON RUNS BATTED IN
1. - Rob Czanstkowski, 1989 - 66
2. - Adam Bailey, 2000 - 61
3. - Scott Spurgeon, 1988 - 58
4. - Willie Ciaramitaro, 2002 - 56
5. - Kyle Gallagher, 2005 - 55
    - Ryan Koski, 2023 - 55
7. - Britt Westman, 2007 - 54
    - John Sipes, 2003 - 54
9. - Jay Hearn, 1996 - 52
10. - Britt Westman, 2008 - 51

NORTHWEST SEASON HOME RUNS
1. - Adam Bailey, 2000 - 18
2. - John Sipes, 2003 - 17
Scott Spurgeon, 1988 - 17
4. - Britt Westman, 2008 - 14
5. - Kyle Gallagher, 2005 - 13
Adam Bailey, 2001 - 13
Ron Cznstkowski, 1989 - 13
Scott Spurgeon, 1987 - 13
9. - Willie Ciaramitaro, 2002 - 12
    - Ryan Koski, 2023 - 12
 
NORTHWEST CAREER RUNS BATTED IN
1. - Britt Westman, 2005-08 - 200
2. - John Sipes, 2000-03 - 161
3. - Adam Bailey, 1998-2001 - 147
4. - Ryley Westman, 2004-07 - 139
5. - Zac Ruff, 2000-02 - 132
6. - Steven Garber, 2012-15 - 129
7 - Ryan Koski, 2019-pres. - 123
8. - Kyle Gallagher, 2003-05 - 119
9. - Bob Gonsoulin, 1978-81 - 117
10. - John White, 2004-07 - 107
Eric McGlauflin, 2011-14 - 107
  
Koski has homered in three straight games to give him 21 career home runs. Koski has the rare distinction of having homered against every current MIAA school.
 
Ryan Koski's Career Home Runs vs. MIAA Opponents
April 22, 2023 vs. Fort Hays State
April 21, 2023 vs. Fort Hays State
April 8, 2023 vs. Missouri Western
March 27, 2023 vs. Northeastern State
March 26, 2023 vs. Northeastern State
March 19, 2023 vs. Emporia State
March 14, 2023 vs. Washburn
March 10, 2023 vs. Pittsburg State
March 5, 2023 vs. Missouri Southern
March 4, 2023 vs. Missouri Southern
May 1, 2022 vs. Rogers State
April 2, 2022 vs. Newman
March 26, 2022 vs. Northeastern State (2)
March 13, 2022 vs. Pittsburg State
April 25, 2021 vs. Central Missouri
April 10, 2021 vs. Central Oklahoma
Feb. 26, 2021 vs. Northeastern State
 
NORTHWEST CAREER HOME RUNS
1. - Adam Bailey, 1998-2001 - 40
2. - Britt Westman, 2005-08 - 36
3. - Brandon Kirsch, 2007-10 - 35
    - John Sipes, 2000-03 - 35
5. - Scott Spurgeon, 1987-88 - 30
6. - Kyle Gallagher, 2003-05 - 26
7. - Zac Ruff, 2000-02 - 22
8. - Ryan Koski, 2019-pres. - 21
9. - Peter Carlson, 2019-21 - 20
10. - Chuck Lynn, 1982-83 - 18

Koski has drawn 95 career walks, which ranks No. 32 among active NCAA Div. II players. His 95 walks rank tied for No. 2 on Northwest's all-time walks chart and he trails Jay Hrdlicka by five walks entering this weekend's series with Rogers State. Koski has drawn a team-best 26 base-on-balls this season. Koski earned 37 walks in 2022, which ranks as the third-best single-season total in program history.
 
NORTHWEST CAREER WALKS
1. - Jay Hrdlicka, 2016-19 - 100
2. - Ryan Koski, 2019-pres. - 95
3. - Steven Garber, 2012-15 - 92
4. - Britt Westman, 2005-08 - 89
5. - Garrett Fort, 2014-17 - 86
6. - Cameron Bedard, 2010-13 - 83
7. - John Sipes, 2000-03 - 81
8. - Nick Gotta, 2015-16 - 78
9. - John White, 2004-07 - 76
10. - John Bothof, 2000-03 - 72

Sophomore Max Pawela made the most of his starting opportunity Sunday in a 14-9 win over Fort Hays State. Pawela connected with three home runs in three consecutive at-bats to boost the Bearcats to the road win. Pawela is the first Bearcat to hit three homers in a game since Jay Hrdlicka did it against Pittsburg State on April 2, 2017. Pawela is the fourth MIAA player this season to record three home runs in a single game (PSU's Trey McClelland vs. Missouri Southern; MSSU's Treghan Parker vs. Fort Hays State; ESU's Mason Sturdy vs. Oklahoma Baptist). Pawela is the third to do it against MIAA competition this year. Pawela is hitting .267 on the season with eight hits in 30 at-bats. Pawela has seen action in 18 games with seven starts.
 
Freshman Brady Miles has homered in each of his last three games. Miles launched his first home run of the season Saturday at Fort Hays State. He hammered a solo bomb on Sunday at Fort Hays State. Miles ripped a two-run homer in Tuesday's 13-6 win over William Jewell at the Bearcat Baseball Field.
 
Freshman Parker Griffith made his season debut March 27 and has recorded a hit in 12 of his first 17 collegiate games. Griffith is batting .308 with a .446 slugging percentage. He has seven extra base hits including a home run. He has driven in 11 runs and scored seven times.
 
Freshman Trey Morris has been swinging a hot bat this season with a .302 average. Morris ranks second on the team with 10 home runs and 37 RBI. Morris has 13 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI contests.
 
Sophomore third baseman Alex Bowers has scored four runs in each of Northwest's last games. Bowers went 1-for-4 with four runs scored in a 14-9 win Sunday at Fort Hays State. Bowers walked three times, was hit by a pitch and scored four runs in Northwest's 13-6 victory over William Jewell on Tuesday. Bowers has scored four runs on three occasions this season. Bowers is hitting .250 with 32 hits and 28 runs scored. Bowers has drawn 19 walks.
 
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Jacob Gajic (3-5 overall) leads the Bearcats in pitching appearances (19). Gajic has pitched 34 1/3 innings in relief and leads the squad with three saves. Gajic faced three batters in Tuesday's 13-6 win over William Jewell and he recorded three strikeouts on 11 pitches.
 
Bearcat head coach Darin Loe has collected 726 career wins in 27 years as a head coach. He is Northwest's all-time coaching wins leader with 570 victories. He is one of 25 active NCAA Div. II head coach with 700 or more victories. He is one of two active MIAA coaches with more than 700 wins (Pittsburg State's Bob Fornelli – 1,041 wins).