WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team surrendered a two-run lead in the eighth inning as the No. 3-ranked Central Missouri Mules scored a 13-12 comeback win.
 
Northwest (8-12 overall, 1-7 MIAA) lost its fifth straight game as Central Missouri (18-3 overall, 7-1 MIAA) won its seventh consecutive contest.
 
The Mules put up a five-spot in the first inning and then added five more runs in the fourth to build a 10-2 lead over the Bearcats.
 
Northwest scored a single run in the fifth before exploding for a nine-run sixth inning to take a 12-10 lead.
 
The Bearcats were four outs away from a victory when the Mules hit a two-run homer off closer Jacob Gajic to retake the lead, 13-12.
 
The Bearcats and Mules will meet Sunday at 1 p.m. to close out the three-game set.
 
NOTES: Kaehukai Young went 3-for-5 … Parker Griffith went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI along with a home run … Caden Diel drove in two runs … Cole Slibowski scored a run and knocked in two … Jacob Selock drove in two runs … Gajic pitched 4 2/3 and gave up six hits and five runs (two earned).