WEATHERFORD, Okla. — The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team managed a split of its season-opening doubleheader at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
 
The Bearcats began the day with a 3-2 triumph over the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs came back in game two with a 15-5 seven-inning victory over the Bearcats.
 
The squads will play another doubleheader Monday beginning at 11 a.m. The first game will be a seven-inning game and the second game is set for nine innings.
 
GAME ONE
Northwest Missouri State edged Southwestern Oklahoma State with a 3-2 victory Sunday in game one of a doubleheader.
 
Northwest Missouri State secured an early advantage in the second inning with a disciplined approach at the plate. After loading the bases on consecutive walks, Chester Brooks scored on a hit-by-pitch. Frank Gall then delivered a pivotal two-RBI single through the right side, putting Northwest ahead 3-1 after two innings.
 
In the bottom of the first, SWOSU took the initial lead when Z. Makarewic tripled to bring K. Wakui home, but they were unable to maintain that momentum after Northwest Missouri State's response.
 
Southwestern Okla. St. narrowed the gap in the fifth inning. E. Foufoulas walked and advanced to third before being brought home by L. Meyer's groundout, making it a 3-2 game in favor of Northwest Missouri State.
 
Both teams' defenses held strong for the remainder of the game, resulting in no further scoring. Northwest Missouri State maintained their lead with effective pitching and secured a 3-2 victory over the Bulldogs.
 
Landon Wells (1-0) made his third career start and worked into the fifth inning, allowing two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Brock Steggall secured the save as he pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief. Steggall struck out three as he yielded three hits and no runs. Wells is 3-3 in his career at Northwest. Steggall collected his fifth career save.
 
Frank Gall drove in two runs with his only hit of the game. Jeremiah Cabuyaban notched two hits, including a double.
 
GAME TWO
Southwestern Oklahoma State bounced back in the second game with a 15-5, seven-inning triumph to split the doubleheader.
 
Northwest's Wilmer Jimenez contributed with a three-run home run in the fourth inning to account for three of the five Bearcat runs.
 
Southwestern Okla. started strong in the first, scoring five runs on six hits, including a two-RBI single by Z. Makarewic and a two-RBI double from N. McCrossin, taking an early 5–0 lead. In the third, SWOSU extended their lead with five more runs, highlighted by J. Spoto's two-run homer to right center, bringing the score to 10–0.
 
Northwest Missouri State responded in the fourth inning with a surge of offense. John Connors and Jeremiah Cabuyaban each reached base, setting the stage for Jimenez's three-run homer to left field. Jordi Ventura followed with a double and scored on Michael Good's RBI single, reducing the deficit to 10–4.
 
The Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the fourth with three runs, including a two-RBI triple by R. Wortman, extending their lead to 13–4. They added two more runs in the sixth inning, with L. Meyer contributing an RBI single, making it 15–4.
 
Northwest Missouri State managed one more run in the seventh, with Jimenez scoring on a sacrifice fly by Sam Wornson. Despite the efforts, SWOSU secured a 15–5 victory.
 
Logan Brasel started on the mound for Northwest Missouri State, pitching 2 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits and six earned runs while striking out three. Tyson Hilsabeck came in as relief, facing two batters over 1/3 of an inning, issuing a walk and recording no hits. Jack Ohler pitched 2/3 of an inning, surrendering four hits and three earned runs. Diego De Santiago pitched 1 1/3 innings without allowing a hit or an earned run, while walking one. Noah Williams completed an inning, giving up four hits and two earned runs, striking out one.
 
Jimenez led the team with a notable performance, hitting a home run and driving in three runs while scoring twice. Ventura contributed with two hits, including a double, and added a run to his tally. Good collected two hits and drove in a run, showing efficiency at the plate. Connors reached base twice on walks and scored once, demonstrating patience in his at-bats.