Press Release

April 4, 2008

Nine-Run First Propels Bearcats to Victory

Box Score

MARYVILLE -- The Northwest Missouri State baseball team used a nine-run first inning, that saw 13 batters come to the plate, to counter Missouri Southern's seven run first giving the Bearcats a 10-8 win. Ryan Bledsoe extended his hitting streak to 15-games and Ben Malick had three doubles.

The win Northwest moves to 17-11 overall (7-6 MIAA) and drops the Lions to 10-19 (8-7 MIAA).

The Bearcats surrendered seven runs to the Lions in the top of the first, but came back even stronger in the bottom half plating nine runs on nine hits. The 45-minute first inning saw Bledsoe and Malick each collect two hits with Northwest sending 13 batters to the plate.

Nick Pfeiffer drove in the first run, smacking a double to left center in an 11-pitch at-bat. Three more players would hit a double in the inning, with Northwest totaling five in the inning. Despite the big inning, Lions starter Matthew Mantle would remain in the game, sitting down 12 of 13 batters after the first.

Both teams bats went silent after the big first inning. Southern added one run in the fourth on a solo home run by Cliff Wheeler and Northwest plated a run in the sixth on a wild pitch.

Ben Briant relieved starter Brett Harvel, logging 5 1/3 innings and picking up his first victory of the season. Closer Evan Nickell would pick up his sixth save of the season, retiring all five batters he faced.

Northwest and Southern continues their four-game set Saturday, April 5. A doubleheader, both 7-inning games, is slated to start at 1 p.m.