TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team came up short in its midweek series finale with Washburn, 12-7. 

Northwest's overall record slipped to 17-21 and 9-15 in the MIAA. Washburn improves to 20-16 overall and 14-10 in conference play. 

Bearcat starter Andrew Clark got out of the first inning on six pitches to work a quick opening frame. 

Kaehukai Young led off the second with a double to right center, giving the 'Cats their first hit of the afternoon. Brady Miles followed up Young's double with a two-run blast, giving Northwest a 2-0 lead. The next batter, Sam Wornson, stepped up to the plate and crushed another solo shot to extend the lead to 3-0. 

Washburn answered in the bottom half, scoring one run on two hits to make it 3-1. 

Brock Steggall came in for Clark in the third, but the Ichabods put together a five-run, four-hit inning to gain a 6-3 lead. 

Nothing went for the 'Cats offensively in the fourth. Jaxon Meyer replaced Steggall on the hill as the Ichabods put together another five spot, leading 11-3. 

Jacob Selock brushed a run across the plate in the sixth after grounding out to third, scoring Wornson to make it 11-4. 

Another pitching change for Northwest as Jake Ciafullo replaced Meyer in the seventh. 

Miles made it a six-run game in the eighth after he crushed his second homer of the game, a two-run shot to left. With a Wornson double, Cole Slibowski singled to bring in another run for the 'Cats, making it 12-7. 

Northwest drew a pair of walks in the top half of the ninth but couldn't scratch a run to give Washburn a 12-7 victory, taking the season series 2-1. 

Clark (0-5) took the loss, working two innings, four hits, and four earned runs. 

Northwest will return to its home diamond tomorrow for a matchup with William Jewell. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

NOTES:
Miles hit two homers with four RBI...Wornson hit a solo shot...Slibowski went 2-for-3 with an RBI double...Young went 2-for-4 from the plate...Williams drew three walks.