MARYVILLE, Mo.-- The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team evened the series with a 9-3 victory over the Northeastern State University RiverHawks. 

Northwest improved to 18-26 overall and 10-19 in the MIAA, as Northeastern State dropped to 20-25 overall and 11-18 in conference action. 

Northwest broke the scoring open in the second, starting with a Cole Slibowski two-RBI single, scoring Kaehukai Young and Brady Miles.

Chester Brooks came in for an injured Alex Bowers, as he tacked on two more runs on a double to center. The Bearcat bats weren't done yet as Ryan Williams doubled to left, scoring Brooks to bring the score to 5-0. 

Northeastern State had an answer in the top half of the fourth with three runs on three hits to cut its deficit to two. 

Williams brought home Jacob Selock on a SAC fly in the bottom half of the fourth to make it 6-3 in favor of Northwest. 

Brooks notched his third hit of the game when he singled home Selock. Brooks scored on an error by the RiverHawk shortstop to bring the score to 8-3. Miles would then score Williams on an RBI single to left to make it 9-3 after the sixth. 

Bearcat starter Casey Stalzer was relieved by Jacob Gajic in the seventh. Stalzer shut down the RiverHawk offense going six innings, allowed four hits, and sat down five. 

Northwest posted five straight scoreless innings to secure a game two victory, 9-3, to even the series. 
Stalzer (5-3) was credited with the win, as Gajic provided his sixth save of the season. Gajic threw three innings, allowed just a hit, and struck out three. 

Brooks led the Bearcat offense going 3-for-4 with a double with three RBI. Slibowski added two hits and two RBI. 

The series finale is set for 1 p.m. tomorrow, April 21.