JOPLIN, Mo. – The Lewis University Flyers posted a 7-4 victory over the Northwest Missouri State University baseball team Friday at the Missouri Southern Lion Classic.
 
Northwest saw its season mark dip to 5-4, while Lewis moved to 1-0 on the year.
 
Lewis held Northwest scoreless until the bottom of the sixth and was able to hang on for the three-run triumph.
 
Ryan Williams had a three-hit day for the 'Cats as he lifted his season average to .452.
 
The Flyers scored in the first inning on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead. The Flyers added a single run in the second on an RBI-double. Lewis scored two more in the fourth off a Bearcat fielding error by second baseman Cole Slibowski.
 
Northwest put up its first two runs of the contest in the sixth. Noah Bodenhausen scored on a wild pitch and Williams scored on an error by Lewis third baseman Tony Fleischauer.
 
The Flyers added a trio of runs in the seventh to take a 7-2 lead.
 
Northwest battled back with a pair of runs in the seventh on two RBI-groundouts from Trent Kozeal and Slibowski. Northwest had loaded the bases with no outs, but could not get a hit with runners in scoring position to build a big inning.
 
The Bearcats could only manage a Williams leadoff single in the eighth for its only base runner in the final two innings.
 
Northwest starter Quinn Mason took the loss to move to 0-1 on the year. Mason pitched 4.0 innings and allowed four hits and four runs (two earned). Mason struck five, but walked six and had two wild pitches.
 
Connor Polli pitched three innings in relief and gave up three hits and three runs (two earned). Polli did not walk a batter.
 
Jayme Fritts pitched the eighth and Jake Ciafullo hurled in the ninth. Neither gave up a run and combined to strike out three Flyer batters.
 
Northwest will continue play in Joplin on Saturday with a 4 p.m. matchup with the University of Mary.