MARYVILLE, Mo. -- The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team secured a non-conference victory over Rockhurst, 7-5. 

Northwest improves to 11-15 overall, as Rockhurst falls to 11-9 overall. 

Rockhurst got the action started in the first inning with a solo shot by Drew Cornelison. 

The Hawks put two more runs on the board in the fourth to make it a 3-0 ballgame. 

Northwest got its first run of the game in the fifth with a Trey Morris RBI double. Next at bat, Brady Miles hit a SAC fly to score Ryan Williams. The 'Cats weren't done yet as Morris scored on a wild pitch. Northwest took its first lead with Noah Bodenhausen capping off a four-run inning with an RBI single to right. 

Rockhurst tied it back up after an RBI double by Cornelison. The Hawks went for another run to retake a 5-4 lead. 

In a series of events, Alex Bowers was caught in a rundown at third base and was called out on the play at home. Morris then scored on a passed ball on the next pitch to tie it back up at five. 

Morris notched his fifth homer of the year to give the Bearcats a 7-5 lead after he blasted a two-run shot to left center in the eighth. 

Rockhurst made it interesting in the ninth after closer Jacob Gajic came in for Jake Ciafullo. The Hawks reached on an error, followed by a hit-by-pitch to lead off the inning. Gajic battled back to retire the next three hitters to close out a 7-5 victory for Northwest. 

Ciafullo was credited with the win, as Gajic secured his third save of the season. 

Northwest will next travel to Claremore, Okla., to square off with Rogers State for a three-game series. Game one is set for Friday, March 22 at 3 p.m.

NOTES:
Morris led the Bearcats going 3-for-5 with two doubles and a two-run homer...Bowers went 3-for-4 with three singles and a walk...Williams went 2-for-3.