PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Northwest Missouri State baseball team (9-12, 3-6 MIAA) fell to Pittsburg State (16-5, 7-5 MIAA) on Sunday, dropping the series finale 16-6 at Al Ortolani Field as the Gorillas completed the weekend sweep.

Northwest jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first, but Pittsburg State responded with a six-run frame and never looked back.

Dylan Hufft led the Bearcats with a 4-for-5 day at the plate, recording his tenth multi-hit game of the season, adding an RBI. Chester Brooks (2-for-4) and Brady Miles (2-for-3) each contributed two hits, while Jacob Selock launched his third home run of the year.

Northwest wasted no time taking control in the first inning, with its first three batters reaching base. Hufft put the Bearcats on the board with an RBI single, and Kaehukai Young added another run with a groundout to second. Brooks capped the frame with an RBI single to center, scoring Ryan Williams to give Northwest a 3-0 lead.

However, Pittsburg State responded in a big way, plating six runs in the bottom of the first to snatch momentum away from the Bearcats. Starter Ashton Neuman (1-2) exited after the inning, giving way to Landon Wells in the second.

Northwest cut into the deficit in the fourth when Selock (3) launched the first pitch he saw over the left-field fence for a leadoff home run, making it a 6-4 game. Wells kept the Gorillas off the board for two innings before surrendering a two-RBI double to Drew Bugner in the bottom of the fourth, extending the Gorillas' lead to 8-4.

The Bearcats continued to battle in the fifth as Brooks and opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Alex Bowers brought Brooks home on a fielder's choice, and Williams legged out an infield single to score Miles, pulling Northwest within two at 8-6. Wells responded with a shutdown inning to keep the deficit intact.

Pittsburg State delivered four runs in the sixth, pushing its lead to 12-6. Wells exited after allowing an RBI double, while Connor Polli taking over on the mound struggled to record an out, as Fuga Yambe completed the frame. 

The Gorillas put up another four-run frame in the eighth to secure a 16-6 victory in eight innings. 

UP NEXT
Northwest and No. 3 Central Missouri will battle in a midweek contest on Tuesday, March 18. First pitch is set for 2 p.m., at Bearcat Baseball Field in Maryville, Mo.