HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team closed out a four-game series by capturing a series victory and splitting Saturday's doubleheader with Arkansas-Monticello at Majestic Park.
 
Northwest (5-3 overall) won three of four in the series against UAM. Saturday began with a 5-3 victory only to see UAM (1-3 overall) scramble and take the fourth and final game of the set, 6-5.
 
GAME ONE
In the opener, Jordi Ventura made a significant contribution with a home run, aiding the Bearcats' effort in the neutral-site matchup. Arkansas-Monticello took an early lead in the first inning, scoring on a wild pitch after an error and a passed ball allowed D. Lizarraga to advance to third. Northwest responded in the fourth inning, starting with John Connors who led off with a single. After an error, he crossed home plate on a fielder's choice by Clement Carrasquero. A sacrifice fly from Sam Dinkelman brought another unearned run, putting the Bearcats ahead 2-1 after four innings.
 
In the fifth, Northwest extended their lead when Wilmer Jimenez singled and later scored on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Carrasquero, making it 3-1. The Weevils countered in the bottom half of the inning with a single by E. Olaybal, narrowing the gap to 3-2. Frank Gall provided a critical insurance run in the eighth inning with a solo home run, extending Northwest's lead to 4-3. In the final inning, Jeremiah Cabuyaban led off with a double and scored on an error, sealing the victory for Northwest Missouri State. Jase Johnson closed out the game by retiring the final three batters, preserving the 5-3 win over Arkansas-Monticello.
 
Gage Busby started on the mound for the Bearcats, pitching 4 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits. He struck out 5 batters and issued 3 walks, compiling a WHIP of 1.50 across 62 pitches, 40 of which were strikes. Johnson relieved Busby, delivering 5 innings of effective relief, where he allowed just 1 earned run on 3 hits. He struck out 6 batters, did not issue a walk, and maintained an impressive WHIP of 0.60 over 74 pitches with 49 strikes.
 
Frank Gall made a strong impact with a home run and three hits, contributing one RBI and scoring once while also stealing a base. Jimenez recorded two hits, including a double, and provided solid defense with four assists. Ventura collected three hits, one of which was a double, and drew a walk.
 
GAME TWO
In the second game, Northwest Missouri State faced a tougher challenge, ultimately falling to the University of Arkansas at Monticello (1-3) in a 6-5 loss. Despite the defeat, the Bearcats managed to steal seven bases, but their two errors proved costly in this close contest.
 
Northwest began strong in the first inning with Frank Gall singling to right field and Jeremiah Cabuyaban being hit by a pitch and stealing second. John Connors then delivered a crucial RBI single, bringing Cabuyaban home to give the Bearcats an early lead. However, Arkansas-Monticello responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning, moving ahead 2-1 after the first.
 
In the top of the third, the Bearcats regained momentum. Leonardo May singled to center and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on another wild pitch. Gall, who walked and stole second, scored on Connors' second RBI single of the game, placing Northwest ahead 3-2 at the end of the third. The Bearcats extended their lead in the fourth inning when Clement Carrasquero singled to left center and eventually scored on a throwing error. Michael Good also crossed the plate on a passed ball after reaching on a single and advancing on a steal, pushing their advantage to 5-2 through four innings.
 
Monticello narrowed the gap in the sixth inning with a pair of runs scored on a series of walks and a wild pitch, bringing the score to 5-4. The home team then took the lead with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, concluding the inning with a 6-5 lead over the Bearcats. Northwest Missouri State was unable to score in the seventh inning, resulting in a 6-5 defeat to Monticello.
 
Landon Wells started on the mound for Northwest Missouri State, pitching 3 2/3 innings and allowing four runs on five hits, with three earned runs. Wells recorded eight strikeouts without issuing any walks, using 66 pitches to face 19 batters. Noah Williams contributed with a brief but effective outing, striking out one in his 1/3 inning of work. Bronco Whitt followed, pitching one inning, allowing one hit, and striking out one while walking one. Logan Brasel and Dylan McIntyre struggled, with Brasel allowing two runs on one hit and one walk without recording an out, while McIntyre walked the only batter he faced. Finally, Diego De Santiago closed out the game with one inning, allowing no hits but walking two and striking out two.
 
Gall showcased versatility on the field, recording one hit and swiping two bases. Connors made a significant impact by collecting two hits and driving in two runs. Cabuyaban contributed with a run scored and two stolen bases, despite not recording a hit. May reached base with a hit and a walk while adding a stolen base to his performance.
 
NOTES: Frank Gall has recorded a base hit in all eight games this season … Wilmer Jimenez is on a seven-game hitting streak … Gall, Jimenez, John Connors and Jeremiah Cabuyaban have each reached base in eight consecutive games … Jordi Ventura has posted a team-best four multi-hit contests … Gall is the only Bearcat to have both a three-hit and four-hit game this season … Gall is batting a team-best .406 … Gall also leads the squad in hits (13), home runs (3), RBI (12) and stolen bases (6) … Cabuyaban is hitting .385 with a team-high .568 on-base percentage … Cabuyaban has collected a team-high six extra-base hits … Jase Johnson is 2-0 with a 0.93 earned run average in 9 2/3 innings of work … Johnson has struck out 12 batters and has a WHIP of 0.72 … Landon Wells ranks second on the squad with 10 strikeouts.