Series Re-cap - Pitt State

Series Re-cap - Pitt State University

Northwest split the weekend series at Pittsburgh State University at 2-2.  Northwest had terrific pitching in 3 of the 4 games and had a chance to win the series heading into Sunday's game.  In Sunday's game, Northwest's pitching had a tough day and the Bearcats offense took too long to heat-up and the Gorillas managed to salvage a split.  As of March 29, 2015, Northwest holds the final play-off spot for the MIAA post-season tournament.  Northwest is only 1 game back from 5th place (presently held by Missouri Western), and 1.5 games back from 4th place (Emporia State).  There is an absolutely HUGE conference series coming up for your Bearcats against Lindenwood University in Maryville this week.  Lindenwood is presently on the outside looking in for the MIAA post-season tournament.  They most certainly want to take over Northwest's spot in the standings.  Stay tuned Bearcat baseball fans, the final leg of the 2015 regular season is in play so expect a photo finish and mad dash for seeding all the way to last day of the regular season.

Game 1 - Northwest won game 1 of the Pitt State series 7-2 after a dominant pitching performance by Anthony Caenepeel.  Anthony worked 9.0 innings, allowed 9 hits, 2 runs (both earned), 0 walks, 8 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.  Pitt State did not score their first run until the 8th inning.  Pitt State scored their second run in the 9th inning.

Northwest did not commit an error and turned 1 double play.

Offensively, Paul Johnson and Steven Garber were the most valuable players in the game.  Paul Johnson went 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored.  Steven Garber went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored.  Luke Wilkinson went 1 for 1 with a home run with 2 RBIs and a run scored.  Nick Gotta went 1 for 5 with a run scored.  Derek Meyer went 1 for 4 in the game.  Garrett Fort went 1 for 4 in the game.  In total, Northwest scored 7 runs, 10 hits, 6 RBIs, 0 walks, 5 strike-outs, and left 4 runners on base.

Game 2 - Northwest lost game 2 of the Pitt State series 5-3.  Northwest's starting pitcher was Joseph Hietpas who cruised through 4 innings before running into trouble in the 5th.  Big Joe worked the first 4 innings and only allowed 1 run with 5 strike-outs.  That is really good for the first year Bearcat.  In total, Joe worked 4.2 innings, allowed 8 hits, 5 runs (all earned), 1 walk, 5 strike-outs, 1 wild pitch, 0 balks, and he hit a batter.  In the bottom of the 5th, Austin Battaglia came into the game in relief of Joe.  Austin worked 1.1 innings, allowed 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 1 strike-out, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.

Defensively, Northwest was charged with 1 error and did not turn a double play.

Offensively, Garrett Fort was the 'Cats most valuable player in the game.  In total, Garrett went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored.  In addition, Paul Johnson hit his first home run of 2015 in the game.  Derek Meyer went 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs.  Steven Garber went 1 for 2 with a walk.  Nick Howard had a walk in the game.  Luke Wilkinson went 1 for 3 also in the game.  Austin Wulff went 0 for 1 but had two successful sacrifice bunts to advance the runner in the game.  In total, Northwest scored 3 runs off of 7 hits, 3 RBIs, 2 walks, 4 strike-outs, and left 6 runners on base.

Game 3 - Northwest won game 3 of the Pitt State Series, 9-3.  Brad Roberts was the Bearcats starter and picked-up the win in the game.  With the win, Brad evened his 2015 record at 4-4.  In total, Brad worked 5.1 innings, allowed 4 hits, 3 runs (only 1 earned), 1 walk, 2 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he hit 2 batters.  Carson Smith came into the game in the 6th inning for a non-save situation.  Carson worked the final 1.2 innings, allowed 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.

Defensively, Northwest committed 3 errors and did not turn a double play.

Offensively, Derek Meyer, Steven Garber, and Austin Wulff were your most valuable players in the game.  Dererk Meyer went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs, a stolen base, and a run scored.  Steven Garber went 2 for 3 (including a double) with 2 RBIs and a walk.  Austin Wulff went 2 for 3 with a RBI, 2 runs scored, and a walk.  Luke Wilkinson hit his 2nd home run of 2015 (and the series) and went 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored in the game.  Garrett Fort went 1 for 3 with 2 runs scored, a walk, and a stolen base.  Kolby Greenslade went 1 for 4 (a double) with 2 runs scored and a stolen base.  Blake Hardegree went 1 for 1 with 2 RBIs in a pinch hitting opportunity in the game.  Paul Johnson had a hit in the game.  Nick Gotta went 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.  In total, Northwest scored 9 runs off of 12 hits, 9 RBIs, 5 walks, 10 strike-outs, and 9 runners left on base.

Game 4 - Northwest lost game 4 of the Pitt State series, 8-6.  Nikko Pablo was the Bearcats starting pitcher.  Nikko worked 4.1 innings, allowed 9 hits, 7 runs (all earned), 2 walks, 1 strike-out, 1 wild pitch, 0 balks, and did not hit a batter.  In the 5th inning, Austin Battaglia came into the game and only faced two batters.  Then, Patrick Brady came into the game and worked 1.1 inning, allowed 4 hits, 1 run (earned), 0 walks, 0 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and did not hit a batter.  In the 6th inning, Jimmy McElwain came into the game and worked 1.1 inning, allowed 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 1 strike-out, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.  In the 8th inning, Rob Henrichs came into the game and worked the final 1.0 inning, allowed 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strike-out, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.

Defensively, Northwest did not commit an error and did not turn a double play.

Offensively, Paul Johnson was the most valuable player for Northwest in the game.  Paul went 3 for 5 (including a triple) with a RBI in the game.  Nick Gotta went 2 for 5 (including a double) with a run scored and a RBI in the game.  Austin Wulff went 2 for 3 with a run scored, a RBI and a sacrifice fly.  Kolby Greenslade had 2 walks, 2 stolen bases, and a run scored in the game.  Garrett Fort also had 2 walks and a run scored in the game.  Derek Meyer went 1 for 5 with 2 runs scored and a RBI in the game.  In total, Northwest scored 6 runs off of 8 hits, 4 RBIs, 4 walks, 4 strike-outs, and left 7 runners on base.

Next up for Northwest - Northwest has a mid-week non-conference game versus Peru State on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.  Following that game, Northwest will play a 4-game series against Lindenwood in Maryville starting Thursday, April 2, 2015.

Go Cats!!
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