Series Re-Cap - Emporia State

Series Re-cap - Emporia State wins series in walk-off

Northwest lost its first conference series this weekend at Emporia State but it took some good fortune for the Hornets to do so.  The story of the Northwest/Emporia series came down to a tough day for starting pitching, late game offensive heroics, and defensive miscues by both teams.  In the end, Emporia made the plays it needed to win the games.  However, of note is the fact that the Bearcats came back from a 9-4 deficit in game 4 to tie the game in the 8th inning.

Game 1 - Emporia State defeated Northwest by the score 5-4 in a thrilling game.  Both teams' starters struggled in the game but both teams' bullpens pitched outstanding as neither team scored after the 3rd inning.  For Northwest, Anthony Caenepeel earned the start but picked-up his first loss of the season.  In total, Anthony worked 4.2 innings, allowed 6 hits, 5 runs (all earned), 4 walks, 6 strike-outs, 1 wild pitch, 0 balks, and he hit 2 batters.  Austin Battaglia came into the game in the 5th inning and threw 1 terrific inning of relief.  In total, Austin worked 1.0 inning, allowed 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 walk, 2 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.  Senior Patrick Brady came into the game in the 6th inning and worked over 2 masterful innings without allowing a run.  In total, Pat worked 2.1 innings, allowed 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 5 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.

Defensively, Northwest committed 1 error and did not turn a double play.

Offensively, Paul Johnson was the most valuable offensive player for the Bearcats in the game.  The Senior went 2 for 4 (including a home run) with 1 run scored, and 4 RBIs in the game.  Nick Gotta smashed a double and scored a run.  Garrett Fort also had a hit and scored a run in the game.  Austin Wulff had a hit in the game.  Kevin Handzlik also had a hit in the game.  Derek Meyer went 1 for 3 with a run scored in the game, too.  In total, Northwest scored 4 runs off of 7 hits 4 RBIs, 0 walks, 7 strike-outs, and left 4 runners on base.

Game 2 - Northwest beat Emporia State by the score 8-6.  Joseph Hietpas earned the start for Northwest.  In total, Hietpas worked 5.2 innings, allowed 6 hits, 6 runs (all earned), 2 walks, 6 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.  Carson Smith came into the game in the 6th inning and picked-up the save.  In total, Carson worked 1.1 inning, allowed 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 1 strike-out, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.

Defensively, Northwest committed 1 error and did not turn a double play.

Offensively, Steven Garber was Northwest's most valuable offensive player.  Steven went 4 for 4 with 3 runs scored and 3 RBIs including a home run.  James Holler went 2 for 3 (including a double) with a walk and a run scored in the game.  Kevin Handzlik went 1 for 3 with 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 walk, including a home run.  Austin Wulff went 1 for 3 with a RBI, a double, and a walk.  Nick Gotta had a hit, scored a run, and a stolen base.  Kolby Greenslade also had a hit in the game.  In total, Northwest scored 8 runs off of 10 hits, 5 RBIs, 4 walks, 9 strike-outs, and left 8 runners on base.

Game 3 - Emporia State defeated Northwest by the score 11-6.  The 4th inning got away from the Cats as Emporia State scored 6 runs.  Brad Roberts earned the start for Northwest.  Brad worked 3.1 innings, allowed 4 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 4 walks, 2 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.  In the 4th inning, Rob Henrichs came into the game in relief but did not record an out.  In total, Rob allowed 2 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 1 walk, 0 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.  Luke Wilkinson came into the game but also did not record an out.  Luke allowed 1 hit, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 0 strike-out, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.  Patrick Brady then came into the game and worked 1.1 inning, allowed 2 hits, 1 earned run, 3 walks, 2 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.  Austin Battaglia then came into the game with 1 out left in the 5th inning and worked the final 1.1 inning, allowed 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.

Defensively, Northwest committed 2 errors and did not turn a double-play.

Offensively, Steven Garber was Northwest's most valuable player.  Steven went 2 for 4 with a run scored and a RBI.  Nick Gotta went 1 for 4 (a home run), 2 runs scored, and a RBI.  Garrett Fort went 1 for 3 with 2 runs scored and a walk.  Paul Johnson went 1 for 3 with a run scored and a RBI.  Kolby Greenslade had a hit and 2 RBIs in the game.  Austin Wulff and Blake Hardegree each had a hit in the game.  In total, Northwest scored 6 runs off of 8 hits, 5 RBIs, 2 walks, 5 strike-outs, and left 7 runners on base.

Game 4 - Emporia State defeated Northwest 10-9 with a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 9th inning in what was a thrilling comeback by your Northwest Missouri State Bearcats.  Nikko Pablo earned the start in the game and had a tough day.  But, Nikko battled like a champion and gave it his best like he always does.  Northwest's bullpen combined to allow only 2 runs in 6 innings of play.  Northwest's offense battled and battled thanks to Senior Steven Garber.  In the end, Emporia had the bases loaded with 1 out and the Hornets batter hit a deep fly ball into left field to score the winning run.

Pitching - Nikko earned the start and worked 2.2 innings, allowed 9 hits, 8 runs (only 5 earned), 0 walks, 1 strike-out, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he hit 3 batters.  Austin Battaglia came into the game in the 3rd inning and worked 3.1 innings, allowed only 2 hits, 1 run (earned), 2 walks, 3 strike-outs, 1 wild pitch, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.  In the 7th inning, Carson Smith came into the game and worked 2.2 innings, allowed 3 hits, 1 run (earned), 1 walk, 2 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.

Defensively, Northwest committed 1 error and did not turn a double play.

Offensively, Steven Garber was Northwest's most valuable offensive player in the game.  Steven hit 2 home runs in the game, went 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored and 4 RBIs.  But for Steven's 2 home run explosion, Austin Wulff would have been your most valuable offensive player.  Austin went 4 for 4 with 2 runs scored and a walk.  Not to be outdone, Kolby Greenslade went 4 for 5 with a run scored and a RBI in the game.  Garrett Fort went 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and a RBI in the game.  Blake Hardegree went 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs in the game.  Luke Wilkinson also had a hit in the game, too.  In total, Northwest scored 9 runs off of 16 hits, 9 RBIs, 2 walks, 7 strike-outs, and left 11 runners on base.

Next up for Northwest - Northwest will play a 4-game series against Washburn in Maryville on the weekend of April 17-19.  Washburn is one spot ahead of Northwest in the standings and both teams are fighting for their post-season goals.  This will be an epic match-up this weekend.  You will not want to miss it.  First pitch is Friday, April 17, 2015, at 3pm at the Bearcat baseball field.

Go Cats!!
###