Tuesday, April 23
Northwest Missouri State at Rockhurst, 6 p.m. | WATCH | LIVE STATS

Friday, April 26
Northwest Missouri State at Central Oklahoma, 6 p.m. | WATCH | LIVE STATS

Saturday, April 27
Northwest Missouri State at Central Oklahoma, 3 p.m. | WATCH | LIVE STATS

Sunday, April 28
Northwest Missouri State at Central Oklahoma, 1 p.m. | WATCH | LIVE STATS

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team will cap the regular season this week with a Tuesday non-conference game at Rockhurst and a Friday-Sunday series at Central Oklahoma to wrap up MIAA play.

The Bearcats (19-26 overall, 11-19 MIAA) are battling for a spot in the MIAA Tournament. Northwest is in a three-way tie for seventh place in the league standings with Fort Hays State and Northeastern State. Northwest owns series wins over both FHSU and NSU, which would give the Bearcats a tiebreaker edge should the teams tie after this weekend's action. The top eight teams will qualify for the 2024 MIAA Tournament. First round quarterfinal series May 3-5 are hosted on the campuses of the four highest seeds. The final four advancing teams will play May 9-11 at Al Ortolani Field in Pittsburg, Kan.
 
The Bearcats will begin the week with a Tuesday matchup against Rockhurst in Kansas City, Mo. Northwest recorded a 7-5 win over Rockhurst when the teams met March 19 in Maryville.
 
The Bearcats have set a program single-season record by having drawn 263 walks. The previous season-high for walks was 231 set in the 2004 season. Northwest ranks No. 9 in the nation this year with the 263 base-on-balls.
 
Walks (Season)
1. 2024 - 263
2. 2004 - 231
3. 2016 - 229
4. 2001 - 226
5. 2019 – 212
 
2024 NCAA Div. II Walk Leaders
1. Tampa                      315
2. Lander                     277
3. Missouri Southern  273
4. Oklahoma Baptist   267
5. UIndy                       266
6. Central Missouri     264
    Emporia State         264
    Ga. Southwestern   264
9. Northwest Mo. St.  263
    North Georgia         263
 
Northwest has hit 45 home runs this season, which ranks tied for the sixth-most in a single season in school history.
 
Home Runs
1. 1988 - 51
2. 2008 - 50
    2005 - 50
4. 2001 - 49
    2023 - 49
6. 2024 - 45
7. 2000 - 44
    2007 - 44
9. 2006 - 42
    1987 - 42
 
Junior Ryan Williams set the single-season Bearcat walks record when he surpassed the old mark of 45 that was held by Brandon Huske in 2013 and Nick Gotta in 2016. Williams has earned 46 free passes this season, which ranks No. 2 in the nation and the MIAA. Missouri Southern's Drew Townsend has drawn a nation's best 50 walks this year.
 
Walks (Season)
1. Ryan Williams, 2024 - 46
2. Brandon Huske, 2013 - 45
    Nick Gotta, 2016 - 45
4. Ryan Koski, 2022 - 37
5. Scott Spurgeon, 1988 - 35
6. Nick Gotta, 2015 - 33
7. Ben Malick, 2008 - 32
    Jerry Mikusa, 1985 - 32
    Austin Wulff, 2015 - 32
10. Cameron Bedard, 2012 - 31
    Jay Hrdlicka, 2017 – 31
 
Along with all his walks, Williams is also doing damage with his bat by hitting a team-best .406. Williams leads the MIAA in on-base percentage (.544). He ranks No. 12 in the nation in on-base percentage. Williams's .406 batting average ranks third in the MIAA. Williams leads Northwest in batting average (.406), slugging percentage (.700), hits (65), runs (45), doubles (16), home runs (9), total bases (112) and walks (46). Williams has posted 21 multi-hit games and 12 multi-RBI contests. Williams has tallied seven three-hit games this year. Williams has posted a team-best 18 two-out RBI. With his next double, Williams would tie for the fifth-most doubles in a singlel-season in Bearcat history.
 
Northwest has had 10 batters hit .400 or better (minimum of 75 at-bats) in a single season. Williams is looking to become the first Bearcat since Matt Coons in 2006 to hit .400 in a season.
 
Batting Average (Season)
(Min. 75 at-bats)
1. Dennis Webb, 1977 - .487 (58-119)
2. Scott Spurgeon, 1988 - .466 (68-146)
3. Chuck Lynn, 1983 - .444 (55-137)
4. Delton Kruk, 1999 - .452 (47-104)
5. Matt Fitzmorris, 1996 - .422 (65-154)
6. Adam Bailey, 2000 - .417 (78-187)
7. Ryan Ellis, 2002 - .416 (79-190)
8. Matt Coons, 2006 - .415 (54-130)
9. Adam Bailey, 2001 - .409 (70-190)
10. Robert Robb, 1985 - .401 (55-137)
 
Trey Morris ranks No. 3 in the MIAA in RBI (57) and ranks No. 24 the nation. Morris's 57 RBI ranks as the fifth-best single-season total in program history. Morris is hitting .330. He ranks second on the squad with 62 hits, including a team-high eight hits with the bases loaded. Morris also tops the Bearcats in home runs (9) and multi-RBI games (16). Morris has accumulated 20 multi-hit games, which includes 10 three-hit affairs. Morris is credited with a team-best 23 hits and 15 RBI in two-out scenarios.

Runs Batted In (Season)
1. 66, Rob Czanstkowski, 1989
2. 61, Adam Bailey, 2000
3. 58, Scott Spurgeon, 1988
    58, Ryan Koski, 2023
5. 57, Trey Morris, 2024
6. 56, Willie Ciaramitaro, 2002
7. 55, Kyle Gallagher, 2005
8. 54, Britt Westman, 2007
    54, John Sipes, 2003
10. 52, Jay Hearn, 1996

Noah Bodenhausen leads the squad with nine sacrifice bunts. He is second on the team with 45 runs scored. Bodenhausen is batting .286 with 48 hits and 13 stolen bases. He is 19-of-39 (.487) when leading off an inning. Bodenhausen has 11 multi-hit games, including a four-hit game, and four multi-RBI contests. Bodenhausen has tallied 29 walks.

Kaehukai Young ranks tied for third on the squad with 36 runs scored. He is batting .295 with 41 hits and four home runs. He has drawn 23 walks and has been hit by a pitch on 11 occasions, which is tied for 10th in the MIAA. He is 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts.
 
Cole Slibowski is batting .285 with 51 hits. He has 14 two-out RBI. He is third on the team with 16 multi-hit contests. He has posted eight multi-RBI games. Slibowski has a team-best 35 hits when leading off an inning (35-of-71 - .493). Slibowski has a hit in four straight games. Slibowski hit .636 with seven hits in 11 at-bats as Northwest gained a series win over the Northeastern State RiverHawks. He also tallied a team-best seven RBI in the three-game set. Slibowski had a multi-hit games in all three matchups. He went 3-for-5 with two RBI in Friday's game. He went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored on Saturday. In Sunday's finale, Slibowski went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.

Jacob Selock is batting .267 with 31 hits, 27 runs scored and 31 RBI. Selock has knocked seven balls out of the park. Selock has drawn 29 walks.
 
Brady Miles is batting .265 with seven home runs, six doubles and 28 RBI. He leads the squad with six sacrifice flies.
 
The Bearcat pitching staff has put up a 7.41 team earned run average. Northwest pitchers have struck out 357 batters in 382 1/3 innings. The Bearcats need three more strikeouts to reach a top-five program mark for whiffs in a season.
 
Strikeouts (Season)
1. 410 – 2018
2. 388 – 2017
3. 387 – 2023
4. 382 – 2016
5. 360 - 2019
 
Casey Stalzer leads the MIAA with 86 strikeouts. Stalzer ranks No. 6 in the nation in batters struck out. Stalzer's 86 strikeouts rank as eighth-best single-season total in program history. Stalzer is 5-3 in 12 starts with a 6.11 earned run average. Stalzer has struck out at least eight batters in eight of his 12 starts. Stalzer also ranks No. 12 in the country in strikeouts-per-nine innings (12.22) in 63 1/3 innings pitched. Stalzer was named the MIAA Pitcher of the Week after he struck out a career-high 13 batters and tossed seven four-hit, scoreless innings against Fort Hays State.

Strikeouts (Season)
1. 114, Anthony Caenepeel, 2017
2. 110, Joseph Hietpas, 2018
3. 106, Brad Roberts, 2018
4. 97, Scott Kurtz, 1969
5. 93, Max Spitzmiller, 2022
6. 91, Anthony Caenepeel, 2016
7. 88, Steve Nelson, 1989
8. 86, Casey Stalzer, 2024
9. 81, Joseph Hietpas, 2017
10. 77, Joseph Hietpas, 2016
 
Quinn Mason captured MIAA Pitcher of the Week honors (Feb. 26) as he mowed down Emporia State for 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Mason (2-2) struck out 11 Hornets in picking up his first win of the year. Mason has a 7.74 ERA in 57 innings pitched. Mason has struck out 62 batters.

Jake Ciafullo ranks No. 9 in the country and second in the MIAA with 22 appearances on the mound this season. Ciafullo is 2-3 with a 7.24 ERA in 32 1/3 innings pitched. He has struck out 20 batters.

George Fisher is 2-2 with a 6.99 ERA in six starts. Fisher has allowed 22 earned runs in 28 1/3 innings pitched with 23 strikeouts.
 
Jacob Gajic has tallied a team-best seven saves, which is tied for ninth-best on the Bearcat single-season chart. Gajic is 2-5 with a 4.84 ERA in 48 1/3 innings of work. Gajic has struck out 50 batters in 20 appearances.
 
Gajic delivered a pair of nine-out saves to lift the Bearcats to a series win over Northeastern State. Gajic pitched six innings and did not allow a run. He gave up three hits and struck out six RiverHawk batters. On Saturday, Gajic entered in the seventh inning and allowed one hit over three innings of work. Gajic struck out three in earning a three-inning save. On Sunday, Gajic delivered another three-inning save to nail down a 13-8 win over the RiverHawks. Gajic got the final nine outs while allowing two hits and two walks. He struck out two NSU hitters.
 
Gajic has produced 16 career saves to rank third in Bearcat history and No. 10 among NCAA Div. II active career leaders. Gajic ranks No. 12 among NCAA Div. II active pitchers with 64 appearances on the mound. He ranks No. 5 on Northwest's all-time pitching appearances chart.
 
Northwest Season Saves
1. 14, Trevor Dudar, 2018
2. 12, Matt Goodman, 2000
3. 11, Nikko Pablo, 2017
4. 9, Brett Whittle, 2006
    9, Carson Smith, 2015
    9, Trevor Dudar, 2019
7. 8, Evan Nickell, 2008
    8, Matt Coons, 2004
9. 7, David Dugan, 2003
    7, Troy Newman, 1985
    7, Jacob Kemper, 2009
    7, Carson Smith, 2016
    7, Jacob Gajic, 2024

Northwest Career Saves
1. 23, Trevor Dudar, 2018-19
2. 17, Carson Smith, 2011-16
3. 16, Jacob Gajic, 2022-pr.
4. 15, Matt Goodman, 2000-01
5. 13, Brett Whittle, 2006-07
6. 12, Jayson Huett, 2010-11
7. 11, Nikko Pablo, 2014-17
8. 9, Evan Nickell, 2007-08
9. 8, Matt Coons, 2003-06
10. 7, Brett Rust, 2002
    7, Troy Newman, 1984-85

Northwest Career Pitching Appearances
1. 87, Jacob Wagner, 2015-18
2. 82, Nikko Pablo, 2014-17
3. 70, Alex Slocum - 2019-23
4. 68, Carson Smith, 2012-16
5. 64, Jacob Gajic, 2022-pr.
6. 61, Brad Roberts, 2015-18
7. 60, Joseph Hietpas, 2015-18
8. 58, Austin Battaglia, 2015-17
9. 56, Brian Greunke, 1987-90
10. 55, Max Spitzmiller, 2018-23
 
The Bearcats scored a 2-1 series win over No. 8-ranked Missouri Southern (March 28-30). It is the first series win over a ranked opponent since Northwest topped Central Missouri in the 2006 season.

Head coach Darin Loe is one of 26 active NCAA Div. II head coaches with at least 700 career wins. Loe has tallied 746 triumphs in 31 seasons as a head coach. Loe is one of four active MIAA coaches with 700 or more wins with Bob Fornelli (1,074 – Fort Hays State, Emporia State, Pittsburg State) and Brad Hill (905 – Central Missouri, Kansas State, Emporia State), Sunny Golloway (774 – Oral Roberts, Oklahoma, Auburn, East Central, Northeastern State). Loe is Northwest's all-time coaching wins leader with 590 victories. Loe has a record of 407-422 in MIAA games only. Loe took over as the Bearcat skipper in 2000 and ranks No. 4 in all-time MIAA baseball coaching victories (590).
 
MIAA Coaching Wins (through April 22, 2024)
1. Bob Fornelli (ESU/PSU – 2004-pres.)         1,074
2. Buzz Verduzco (MWSU – 2000-2023)         629
3. Steve Anson (Washburn – 1989-2014)       622
4. Darin Loe (Northwest – 2000-pres.)           590
5. Steve Bever (PSU – 1991-2012)                  565