MARYVILLE, Mo. - Junior Tyson Hilsabeck tossed 5 1/3 hitless innings of relief and John Connors ripped a go-ahead RBI-double off the wall in left field in the eighth inning as the Northwest Missouri State University baseball team knocked off No. 2-ranked Pittsburg State, 2-1.

The Bearcats used four pitchers to limit the Gorillas to three hits as Northwest took a 2-0 lead in the three-game set with Pittsburg State.

Gage Busby made the start in the hill for the Bearcats but was lifted after nine batters because of injury. Busby pitched 1 2/3 innings and allowed one hit and two walks along with one strikeout.

Head coach Tony Jandron summoned Hilsabeck from the bullpen and he did not disappoint. Hilsabeck worked 5 1/3 innings of hitless baseball with three strikeouts. Hilsabeck walked six but did not allow a run.

Jayme Fritts came on in the eighth inning and allowed the only run of the day against the Bearcats. Fritts pitched 2/3 of an inning and gave up two hits with a strikeout.

Diego De Santiago finished off the Gorillas by not allowing a hit in the final 1 1/3 innings. De Santiago walked one of the five batters he faced.

The Bearcat offense generated five hits but they came in clutch moments. Wilmer Jimenez laced an RBI-double down the left-field line in the second inning to plate Jordi Ventura for a 1-0 lead.

The Gorillas knotted the game at 1-1 in the eighth when Andrew Branson doubled down the left-field line to score Landin Midgett. 

Frank Gall led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk. Jeremiah Cabuyaban was called out on strikes setting the stage for Connors to deliver. Connors ripped an RBI-double to the left-field wall and Gall raced his way around from first to score to give the Bearcats a 2-1 lead.

De Santiago worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to gain the win and improve to 3-2 on the season.

The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Bearcat Baseball Field.