MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team (4-4 overall) secured the weekend series over Christian Brothers University with a decisive 20-4 victory Sunday afternoon.
 
The Bearcats claimed the series 3-1, racking up 53 total runs while capitalizing on 28 free passes—including a season-high 13 during today's contest. Northwest outscored CBU (4-3 overall) by a combined 53-17 margin over the weekend. 
 
Senior Kaehukai Young powered the offense, going 2-for-2 with a two-run homer and five RBIs. Senior Ryan Williams delivered a 3-for-4 performance with a double, a solo shot, and four RBIs, while graduate Ashton Neuman added two hits, including a home run, and four more RBIs. 
 
A brief rain delay postponed the series finale's start, but the Bearcats wasted no time setting the tone. Alex Bowers and Williams each drew walks to put two on with no outs. Dylan Hufft was then hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Kaehukai Young, who worked Northwest's fourth free pass of the inning to bring in the game's first run. Leonardo May followed by reaching on an infield play that scored Williams and, thanks to an error by the Bucs' shortstop, plated another runner for an early 3-0 lead.  
 
Selock notched Northwest's first hit in the second inning, followed by another walk from Bowers. Both Bearcats stole their bases, setting the stage for Williams' two-run double to push the lead to 5-0. Moments later, starting pitcher Ashton Neuman helped his own cause, crushing a two-run homer over the right-field fence to extend the lead to 7-0.  
 
After a scoreless third, Northwest added two more runs in the fourth, with Young bringing in Williams on a sacrifice fly and Brody Hufft taking a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded to make it 9-0.  
 
Freshman Logan Brasel took over on the mound in the bottom of the fourth, relieving Neuman, who pitched three solid innings, allowing just three hits while striking out two. Neuman remained in the lineup as the designated hitter.
 
Brasel surrendered two hits, two walks, and two earned runs in his first inning of work, as CBU trimmed the deficit to 9-2 after four innings.  
 
The Bearcat offense stayed red hot, with Ryan Williams launching his 17th career home run—and first of the season—to ignite a three-run frame. Kaehukai Young followed with his second homer of the weekend, a two-run blast to center, pushing the lead back to double digits.  
 
Selock ripped a ground-rule double to score Chester Brooks from second, while Brody Hufft crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Bowers worked his third walk of the game, setting up a Williams sac fly that brought in Selock. D. Hufft then grounded out to score Bowers, extending the lead to 16-3. Young capped off the inning with an RBI single to left, making it 17-3.  
 
Selock added another RBI double, and Neuman drove in two more to cap a commanding 20-4, series-clinching victory over Christian Brothers.  
 
Brasel (1-0) earned his first career win, tossing two innings while allowing four hits, three earned runs, and recording a strikeout.
 
UP NEXT
Northwest will travel to Springfield, Mo., for a midweek match up with Drury. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.