MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State baseball team (13-16, 7-9 MIAA) came up short in both games of Friday's doubleheader against Rogers State (19-9, 9-7 MIAA) at Bearcat Baseball Field.

The Hillcats dominated game one with a four-hit shutout, rolling to an 11-0 victory behind a strong pitching performance. In game two, Northwest battled back late but couldn't complete the comeback, falling 7-4 as Rogers State secured the sweep.

GAME ONE – Rogers State 11, Northwest 0 (7 inn.)
Rogers State used a dominant pitching performance with timely hitting to secure an 11-0 game one victory in seven innings. The loss marked just the third time this season the Bearcats have been shut out.

Northwest starter Ben Haug (2-3) came out strong, striking out seven of the first eight batters he faced before issuing a walk in the third. However, a failed pickoff attempt allowed Rogers State to capitalize with an RBI double, giving the Hillcats a 1-0 lead. Haug worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the inning to keep it close.

Rogers State tacked on another run in the fourth and broke the game open in the fifth, plating seven runs to take a commanding 9-0 lead. Kayden Cook, Landon Wells, and Caden Blair all saw time on the mound in relief during the Hillcats' big inning.

Offensively, the Bearcats managed just four hits in the game. Parker Griffith led the way with a pair of singles, while Chester Brooks and Brady Miles each added a hit.

Rogers State's Ky Decker was dominant on the mound, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just four hits and striking out eight without issuing a walk.
 
GAME TWO – Rogers State 7, Northwest 4
The offensive momentum from Rogers State's game-one win carried into the second contest of the day, as the Hillcats struck early with six runs on five hits in the first inning en route to a 7-4 victory over Northwest. 

Rogers State tacked on another run in the second before the Bearcats finally broke through in the bottom half. Kaehukai Young drove in Jacob Selock to put Northwest on the board, cutting the deficit to 7-1.

George Fisher (0-3) got the start for Northwest but was relieved by Logan Brasel midway through the second inning. Brasel delivered a strong outing, throwing 5 2/3 innings while allowing just two hits and recording a season-high eight strikeouts. Fuga Yambe and Leonardo May also saw time on the mound in relief.

The Bearcats' offense showed life in the seventh, as Leonardo May singled home Dylan Hufft before Jacob Selock's well-placed bunt forced a throwing error, allowing two more runs to score and making it a 7-4 ballgame. However, Northwest managed just one hit over the final two frames, and Rogers State held on to complete the doubleheader sweep.

The Hillcats totaled nine hits in the game, including five for extra bases. Selock provided Northwest's lone extra-base hit with a third-inning double and led the team with two RBIs. Young and Hufft each posted multi-hit performances with a pair of singles.
 
UP NEXT
Northwest and Rogers State will play the series finale tomorrow, March 29. First pitch is set for Noon at Bearcat Baseball Field.