EDMOND, Okla. -- The Northwest Missouri State baseball team (20-20, 14-13 MIAA) opened its weekend series with a 9-6 win over Central Oklahoma (29-13, 19-11 MIAA) on Thursday evening.

Chester Brooks powered the Bearcats with a pair of solo home runs, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. Ryan Williams stayed hot with a 4-for-5 effort, collecting a double and two RBI. Despite being outhit 14-to-12, Northwest capitalized on five extra-base hits compared to UCO's three.

Brock Steggall (5-2) earned the win in relief, tossing the final 4 1/3 innings. He allowed just five hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out three.

The Bearcats struck first, scoring in the opening inning on a sacrifice fly from Kaehukai Young. The Bronchos answered in the bottom half to tie it, 1-1.

Brooks launched his first homer of the game in the second to give Northwest a 2-1 lead, followed by an RBI double from Williams to make it 3-1. Brooks struck again in the fourth with another solo shot, pushing the lead to 4-2. UCO responded with a run in the bottom half to keep it close at 4-3.

After Central Oklahoma tied it in the fifth, Steggall entered in relief. Northwest responded with a three-run inning highlighted by an RBI single from Williams and a two-run knock by Dylan Hufft to take a 7-4 lead.

In the seventh, Jacob Selock crushed a two-run homer after Sam Wornson reached on an error, extending the advantage to 9-4. UCO added a run in the bottom half and loaded the bases with two outs, but Steggall escaped the jam with a key strikeout to limit the damage.

The Bronchos threatened again in the ninth, but Steggall shut the door with three straight groundouts to secure the series-opening victory.

UP NEXT
With weather expected in the Edmond area, Northwest and Central Oklahoma will conclude the series with a doubleheader on Friday, April 18. First pitch of game one is scheduled for Noon.