Press Release

March 13, 2010

Bearcats Lose Two at Fort Hays State

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

HAYS, Kan.-The Northwest Missouri State baseball squad lost two games Saturday afternoon to Fort Hays State, losing game one 4-3 and dropping the second, 13-10.

In game one Northwest carried a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning before giving up three runs with two outs in the inning (Northwest was the home team since the games were originally scheduled to be played in Maryville). The Bearcats added a run in the bottom of the inning on a Brandon Kirsch sacrifice fly. Northwest's comeback fell short as Landinn Echardt grounded out to the shortstop with men on the corners to end the game.

Echardt was 2-for-3 in the game with a home run. Luke Lavicky had a pinch-hit RBI double in the sixth inning that gave Northwest the lead. Matt Stice and Cameron Bedard each went 1-of-3. Chris Green got the start on the mound for the Bearcats, pitching five and one-thirds of an inning of solid baseball. Green gave up just one run on six hits and struck out three Tiger batters.

In game two eight different Bearcats got hits but it was not enough as Hays got a four-run sixth inning and a five-run seventh to give them a 13-5 lead going into the ninth inning. Northwest would battle back to get five runs in the bottom of the inning, but the Bearcats' comeback bid would fall short.

Brandon Kirsch went 2-for-3 in the game with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. The home run gives Kirsch 30 for his career and moves him into a tie for third place on the program's career home runs list.

Kreed Kurtz went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Matt Stice also added two RBIs in the loss for Northwest.

Northwest (2-15, 0-6 MIAA) will finish its four-game set with Fort Hays State tomorrow afternoon in a double header beginning at noon.