JOPLIN, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team bounced back with a 12-4 trouncing of the University of Mary Marauders Saturday at the Missouri Southern Lion Classic.
The Bearcats (6-4 overall) put up 11 runs in the first two innings to take control of the contest early.
Ryan Williams tallied his second straight three-hit game and third of the season.
The Bearcats loaded the bases three batters into the game and
Trey Morris came through with a bases-clearing double to right center. After a flyout by
Brady Miles,
Kaehukai Young drew a walk and
Jacob Selock uncorked a three-run homer to left field to give the Bearcats a six-run cushion. With two outs,
Caden Diel drew a walk and stole second.
Cole Slibowski reached for the second time in the first, this time on an error, which allowed Diel to score the seventh run of the first for the Bearcats.
The first three batters reached again in the second when
Ryan Williams doubled, Morris singled and Miles ripped an RBI-double to left. Selock delivered a one-out RBI single through the left side to make it 9-0. Selock stole second and Diel worked his second walk of the game to load the bases. Slibowski laced a two-out, two-run single to left to plate Miles and Selock for an 11-0 advantage.
The Maurader offense got two runs in the third and two in the sixth to trim the Bearcat lead to 11-4.
Slibowski drove in his third run of the game with a one-out single in the seventh. Slibowski brought home
Trent Kozeal, who had pinch run for
Max Pawela after he had tripled to begin the inning.
The Marauders scored in a sac fly in the eighth to cut the Northwest lead to 12-5.
Northwest was not done scoring as the Bearcats added another tally in the ninth. Young led off with a double down the left field line. He moved up to third on a sac bunt from Selock. Diel coaxed his third walk of the game. Diel stole second and Young scored on the play to make it 13-5.
Bearcat starter
Casey Stalzer earned the win as he pitched 5.0 innings and allowed two runs (both earned). Stalzer struck out eight Marauders to match his career high for the third time this season.
Reliever
Brock Steggall gained a four-inning save as head coach
Darin Loe went with two pitchers for the duration of the Bearcat victory. Steggall allowed three hits and three runs (two earned), while he struck out five.
The Bearcats will wrap up play in Joplin on Sunday with a 4 p.m. matchup with the Minnesota State Mavericks.
NOTES: The Bearcats scored double-figures in runs for the fifth time this season … Williams went 3-for-5 with two runs scored … Selock went 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored …
Slibowski went 2-for-5 with three RBI … it is the second four-RBI game this season for Slibowski … Morris went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI … Pawela went 2-for-4.
