JOPLIN, Mo. — The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team saw its 2025 season come to a close in the MIAA Championship game, falling to the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos, 11-4 at Warren Turner Field.

Under first-year head coach Tony Jandron, the Bearcats finished with a 27-25 overall record and a 19-17 mark in MIAA play — their highest win totals in both categories since the 2018 season. Jandron's 27 wins this season are the most ever by a first-year coach in program history. 

Three Bearcats were named to the 2025 MIAA All-Tournament team for their outstanding performances – Ashton Neuman, Alex Bowers, and Ryan Williams. 

At the plate, Ashton Neuman, Chester Brooks, and Sam Wornson each tallied two hits, with Neuman and Brooks driving in a team-high two RBIs apiece.

Freshman Leonardo May earned his first collegiate start in the title game, striking out the side in the first despite allowing two hits. Kaehukai Young recorded the Bearcats' first hit with a single to left, but the game remained scoreless through one.

May added two more strikeouts in the second before UCO broke through with a three-run homer. A Bearcat error led to another Broncho run, making it 4-0 after two innings.

Northwest responded in the third as Dylan Hufft legged out an infield single and Ryan Williams reached on a fielder's choice. After both runners advanced on a wild pitch, Neuman delivered a two-RBI single to cut the deficit to 4-2.

The Bronchos added another run in the bottom half to go up 5-2. Brock Steggall came in for May to close the frame.

Both teams went scoreless in the fourth and fifth. The Bearcats threatened in the sixth with two runners on, but a successful UCO pickoff ended the inning.

In the eighth, Neuman singled with two outs before Brooks crushed a two-run homer to center, trimming the deficit to 6-4. However, the Bronchos held on to claim the title and end Northwest's season.

A five-run inning by the Bronchos was too much to overcome in the final frame, as UCO claimed the title. 
 
BEARCATS NAMED TO 2025 MIAA ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
(Gr.) Ashton Neuman, OF
(Sr.) Alex Bowers, INF
(Sr.) Ryan Williams, C
 
2025 SEASON TEAM STATISTICS (52 games)
Runs Scored: 391 (No. 5 in program history)
Hits: 481
Doubles: 102
Triples: 9
Homeruns: 56 (most in program history)
RBIs: 352 (No. 3 in program history)
Total Bases: 769
SLG%: .450
Drawn Walks: 266 (No. 2 in program history)
HBP: 88
OB%: .401
Stolen Bases: 40
FLD%: .967
ERA: 6.75
Strikeouts: 327
Complete Games: 4
Shutouts: 2
Saves: 7