MARYVILLE, Mo. -- The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team notched a 7-6 win over Washburn in a midweek matchup.

Northwest improves to 13-17 overall and 5-12 in the MIAA, as Washburn falls to 16-13 overall and 10-7 in conference action.

Eight Bearcats recorded hits, as three recorded multi-hit performances. 

In the second inning, Brady Miles ignited Northwest's offense with its first hit of the game. Shortly after, Alex Bowers followed with another single, setting the stage for Kaehukai Young's walk to load the bases with just one out. Jacob Selock's flyout to deep center kept the 'Cats from scoring.

The Bearcats tacked on five runs on six hits in the third inning. Ryan Williams kickstarted the scoring spree with a towering two-run homer, giving Northwest a 2-0 lead. Trey Morris and Bowers then roped singles, paving the way for Young's two-RBI double, extending the lead to 4-0. Freshman Sam Wornson joined in on the action with his third double of the season, bringing Young home and widening the gap to 5-0.

Washburn managed to break through in the fifth inning, getting its first run with a solo homer to left field, narrowing the deficit to 5-1.
As the game progressed, the Ichabods added another run in the sixth inning, cutting the lead to 5-2 as they entered the bottom half. 

Northwest didn't let up, as Morris delivered another blow in the bottom half with an RBI single to right, extending its lead to 6-2.

Following Fisher's exit, Jake Ciafullo took the mound for the Bearcats. Fisher worked six complete innings and allowed five hits and two runs while striking out five. Ciafullo surrendered a single and a homer in just one inning of work. 

In the eighth inning, Jacob Gajic relieved Ciafullo.

Bodenhausen provided an insurance run for Northwest in the eighth inning, driving in Slibowski with a single to make it 7-5.

Despite Washburn's late push with a run in the ninth inning, Gajic shut down the Ichabod rally by retiring the next batter, securing a hard-fought 7-6 midweek victory for Northwest.

With the win, Fisher (2-0) earned another tally in the win column, while Gajic provided his fourth save of the season and 12th of his career.

Northwest will begin a three-game set with Missouri Southern starting tomorrow at 3 p.m.

NOTES:
Williams went 2-for-3 with a homer and one RBI...Slibowski went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI...Young had a double and two RBI...Morris went 2-for-3 with an RBI...Wornson had a double and an RBI.