CLAREMORE, Okla. -- The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team split its doubleheader with Rogers State with an 11-9 win in the final game of its three-game series.
Rogers State took game one, 8-3, as Northwest took game two, 11-9. Northwest now has an overall record of 12-17 and 4-12 in the MIAA, as Rogers State is 16-11 overall and 8-8 in conference action.
GAME ONE
Rogers State pulled away with three runs in the fifth to defeat Northwest, 8-3, in game one.
In the third inning, Northwest struck first as
Ryan Williams drove in
Noah Bodenhausen with an RBI single, giving the 'Cats a 1-0 lead. RSU responded in the bottom half, capitalizing on a fielding error to score.
The Hillcats surged back in the fourth inning, tallying three runs on two hits. RSU maintained a 4-1 lead after four innings.
Evan Tocmo kicked off the fifth inning with a walk, setting the stage for
Noah Bodenhausen's single that brought Tocmo home, narrowing the gap to a two-run difference. The teams continued to exchange blows, with RSU adding a run in the bottom half to extend their lead to 5-2.
Jake Ciafullo took over for Bearcat starter
Casey Stalzer, who pitched four innings, allowing six hits, four earned runs, and securing three strikeouts.
Ciafullo faced a tough situation, conceding a one-out, two-RBI single to Matt Schure, furthering RSU's lead to 7-2.
Northwest and Rogers State traded off runs in the sixth and seventh innings to give the Hillcats an 8-3 win in game one.
Stalzer (3-3) took the loss.
Noah Bodenhausen led the 'Cats offensively going 3-for-4 from the plate with one runner driven in.
Ryan Williams went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
GAME TWO
Northwest used a three-run third inning to rally from behind to take an 11-9 win in game two.
Brady Miles gave the Bearcats an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single to bring in Williams. Tocmo then singled up the middle to tack on a pair of runs to make it a 3-0 ballgame in the top of the first.
Back-to-back days with a triple, Williams drove in Bodenhausen to put the 'Cats up 4-2 in the second.
In the bottom half of the second inning,
Jaxon Meyer took over pitching duties from Bearcat starter
Andrew Clark. Clark's performance was limited to 1 1/3 innings, yielding four hits and four earned runs. Meyer surrendered a one-out single, leveling the score at four. Later, RSU surged ahead on a wild pitch. The Hillcats mustered five runs from six hits, securing a 7-4 lead after two innings.
Williams delivered another hit, bringing in Bodenhausen and reducing the Hillcat lead to 7-5. Following Williams, Morris singled to right field, and then Miles brought in Williams, tightening the game with two runners on base and two outs in the fourth inning.
Alex Bowers notched his first hit of the game with a pivotal RBI single to right field, scoring Morris. This leveled the game at seven as they entered the bottom half of the fourth inning.
Two quick pitching changes for the 'Cats came in the fourth.
Jayme Fritts came in for Meyer, before a single and walk to start the inning.
Jacob Gajic came in for Fritts with two on and one out. A wild pitch with two outs gave RSU an 8-7 lead.
RSU grabbed one in the fifth.
Jake Emhardt recorded his first hit of the game in the sixth, with a two-out, two-RBI single to right to tie the game back up at nine.
In the ninth inning, Morris earned a walk, granting Northwest its initial baserunner.
Caden Diel substituted in as a pinch runner for Morris stole second base, and later crossed the plate on a throwing error by the Hillcat shortstop, propelling the 'Cats to a 10-9 lead.
Sam Wornson then drove in the eventual winning run, scoring Bowers with a double to left field, giving Northwest an 11-9 lead heading into the final frame.
Gajic (2-3) shut down the Hillcat offense, throwing 5 2/3 innings, four hits, one earned run, and recording eight strikeouts.
Northwest is back in action on Tuesday, March 26, with a MIAA matchup against Washburn. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Bearcat Baseball Field.
