FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team stretched its winning streak to seven with a doubleheader sweep of the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions Friday.
 
Northwest hit a season-high five home runs and tied a season with 20 runs scored in a 20-8 seven-inning victory in game one. The Bearcats held on in game two to secure an 11-10 victory.
 
Northwest is 26-9 overall and 16-5 in MIAA play. UAFS is 4-29 overall and 3-21 in the MIAA. UAFS has lost 12 straight games and is 0-14 at home this season.
 
Northwest is 6-0 in MIAA series this year. Northwest has won eight consecutive series this season that has included triumphs over Arkansas-Monticello (3-1), CSU Pueblo (3-1), Fort Hays State (2-1), Emporia State (2-1), Missouri Southern (3-0), Washburn (2-1), Pittsburg State (3-0) and Arkansas-Fort Smith (3-0). Northwest and Rogers State are the only two MIAA schools to have won every league series they have competed in this season.
 
Northwest's seven-game winning streak is the longest for the Bearcats since Darin Loe's squad won seven straight contests from April 19-29, 2018. The last time the Bearcats won eight consecutive games came March 28-April 9, 2017. Northwest had an 11-game winning streak April 15-May 2, 2006, which was the longest winning streak during Coach Loe's tenure at Northwest. The longest win streak in program history is 18 games March 17-April 5, 1989.

The Bearcats amassed 30 hits, including seven home runs, in Friday's doubleheader sweep of the Lions. Northwest's two grand slams in the top of the sixth inning of game one Friday marked only the 11th time in NCAA Division II history a team hit two grand slams in the same inning.

GAME ONE
Northwest took an early lead in the first, scoring six runs. Frank Gall singled and stole second, eventually scoring on Jeremiah Cabuyaban's double. Jordi Ventura followed with a single, setting the stage for John Connors' three-run homer. Chester Brooks walked, stole two bases, and scored on Sam Wornson's double. Leonardo May added another run with an RBI single, giving Northwest a 6-3 lead after one inning.

The second inning saw Connors hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot to left center, extending the lead to 7-3. Gall added to the score in the third inning with a solo home run to left center. Though the Lions responded with three runs in the bottom half, Northwest maintained an 8-6 lead through three innings. After a scoreless fourth inning for Northwest, UAFS narrowed the gap to 8-7 with a solo home run by Caleb Eisenhower.

In the fifth inning, Gall tripled and scored on a wild pitch, increasing the lead to 9-7 for Northwest. The sixth inning featured an explosive performance, as Northwest erupted for nine runs, including grand slams by Wornson and Wilmer Jimenez, expanding their lead to 18-8. Cabuyaban doubled in the seventh inning, scoring two more runs to cap the game at 20-8.

Tyson Hilsabeck pitched two-plus innings, allowing nine hits and six earned runs, while striking out two. Diego De Santiago pitched an inning with no hits or runs allowed, striking out two batters to gain the win and move to 5-2 on the season.

Gall excelled with five runs and three hits, including a home run and a triple. Cabuyaban contributed significantly with three doubles and three RBIs, while Connors made a strong showing with two home runs and five RBIs.

GAME TWO
Northwest started strong against UAFS, with Frank Gall doubling to right field in the first inning, followed by Jordi Ventura's two-run homer to left center, giving the Bearcats an early 2-0 lead. Michael Good extended the lead with a solo home run in the second inning, making it 3-0. The third inning saw Gall and Jeremiah Cabuyaban single, setting up Ventura for an RBI double. Connors added a sacrifice fly, and Jimenez's single brought home Ventura, ending the inning with Northwest leading 6-1.

Northwest added two more runs in the fourth inning with Gall stealing two bases and scoring along with Cabuyaban on Ventura's double, increasing the lead to 8-1. UAFS responded in the fifth, but Northwest maintained an 8-2 advantage. Ventura's sacrifice fly scored Gall in the sixth, keeping the score at 9-3. The seventh inning saw Northwest score two more runs, with Leonardo May's single bringing in Austin Marsh and Good.

UAFS staged a comeback in the eighth, scoring four runs, yet Northwest Missouri State preserved its lead at 11-10. Diego De Santiago closed out the game, securing the victory. De Santiago entered in the eighth with the tying run and third and he recorded a strikeout. UAFS loaded the bases in the ninth with no outs before De Santiago collected three consecutive strikeouts to secure his fourth save of the season.

Logan Brasel pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Ventura had a standout performance, hitting two doubles and a home run while driving in six runs. Gall contributed significantly with three hits and scored four runs, while Michael Good added a home run and two runs scored.

The next challenge for Northwest comes Wednesday, April 8, when it faces Missouri Western at 3 p.m. in St. Joseph, Mo.