MARYVILLE, Mo. - A pair of eighth-inning two-run homers carried the Northwest Missouri State University baseball team to a 10-7 victory Tuesday over the No. 7-ranked Central Missouri Mules at the Bearcat Baseball Field.

Jeremiah Cabuyaban's two-run blast gave Northwest an 8-7 lead and Wilmer Jimenez's one-out, two-run homer pushed the Bearcats lead to 10-7. Brock Steggall earned the win and Jayme Fritts collected his first career save.

The Bearcats improved to 23-9 overall and 13-5 in MIAA play. UCM fell to 24-6 overall and 15-4 in league play.

Frank Gall was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the first inning and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jordi Ventura's single to shortstop brought Gall home, giving Northwest a 1-0 lead after the first inning.

Central Missouri tied the game in the second inning with a homer over the fence by Ryker Edwards. The score was 1-1 heading into the third.

In the bottom of the third, Gall singled to right field and advanced on a hit-by-pitch to Cabuyaban. Ventura laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners, followed by John Connors' single to right field, scoring Gall. Jimenez then singled to right center, bringing in Cabuyaban. Connors scored on an error by the catcher, and Northwest took a 4-1 lead after three innings.

UCM closed the gap with a sacrifice fly by Cody Moore in the fourth inning, making it 4-2.

In the sixth, the Mules added two runs with a two-run homer by Moore. However, in the bottom of the same inning, Ventura homered to bring Chester Brooks home, extending Northwest Mo. St.'s lead to 6-4.

UCM tied the score in the seventh inning with an RBI single by Cole Kreisel and another RBI single by Kaiden Ashton, making it 6-6.

Northwest reclaimed the lead in the eighth. Gall singled, then Cabuyaban homered to center field, driving in two runs. Later in the inning, Jimenez hit a two-run homer, driving in Connors. Northwest Mo. St. led 10-7 after eight innings.

Jayme Fritts took the mound in the ninth and secured the win for with a final score of 10-7 over UCM.

Leonardo May started on the mound for Northwest, pitching 4 innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 earned runs with 2 strikeouts. Landon Wells came in for relief, pitching 2 1/3 innings, giving up 4 hits and 3 earned runs, striking out none, and issuing one walk. Brock Steggall pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing no hits while striking out one and walking one, earning the win to improve to 2-0 on the season. Jayme Fritts closed out the game, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout to secure the save.

Jeremiah Cabuyaban delivered a powerful performance, hitting a home run and driving in two runs while scoring twice. Jordi Ventura contributed significantly with a home run of his own, collecting three RBIs and recording two hits. Wilmer Jimenez showcased his hitting ability with three hits, including a home run and a double, and drove in three runs. Frank Gall added to the scoring by crossing the plate three times and collecting two hits.

Next Up:
Northwest will travel to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to face Arkansas-Fort Smith in a three-game series to end out the week with the first match up scheduled for Thursday, April 2 at 1:00 p.m.