Northwest Missouri State Bearcats Baseball Report: CARDIAC CATS WALK-OFF AGAIN, WIN 6-5

CARDIAC CATS WALK-OFF AGAIN, WIN 6-5

Maryville, Mo. - What is quickly ascending into an instant classic, your Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats baseball team used late-inning heroics and defeated the Northeastern State University Riverhawks 6-5 in a walk-off. With back-to-back stormings of the baseball field, your Cardiac Cats are making a habit of never saying die. The excitement in the dugout is outstanding to observe. Both teams' starters pitched their butts off today. In the end, it came down to bullpen and Northwest's bullpen carried the day again. Bryce Shea won back-to-back games in as many days this weekend and now sports a 2-0 2016 record. Coach Loe has been masterful at getting contributions and playing time for just about every player on his bench. Saturday's victory really did come down to executing small things consistently well with base running, sacrifice hits, delayed steals, stellar pitching, timely hit, and defense. Northwest has won the first two games of this series and looks for the sweep in Sunday's match-up against Northeastern State.

James Holler moments before hitting the game winning single to center field on Saturday versus Northeastern State University. Northwest won 6-5.

Offense - Nick Gotta was Northwest's offensive MVP on Saturday. Go-Go-Gotta went 2 for 3 (including a double) with 1 RBI and 2 walks in the game. Ozzie Adams went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored, a sacrifice hit, and a stolen base. Most importantly, the game winning hit of the day goes to James Holler, who went 1 for 1 with the game winning RBI and also had a walk in the game. Aaron Barratt went 1 for 3 with 1 RBI, 1 sacrifice hit, and a stolen base in the game. Garrett Fort went 1 for 5 with a run scored in the game. Jay Hrdlicka went 1 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base in the game. Nick Howard went 1 for 4 with a run scored and a walk in the game. Jake Lewis went 1 for 2 (a double), 1 stolen base, 2 runs scored, and 1 walk in the game.

Bryce Shea has picked-up back-to-back wins in as many days this weekend. Bryce worked 3.0 innings on Saturday to secure the Bearcat victory over Northeastern State University.

Defense - Northwest committed 2 errors in the game (Adams and Gotta) which led to 3 unearned runs in the game.

NWMSU Athletics' Website Link - Click here to read the story written by the Northwest Missouri State University's Athletics' Department. http://bearcatsports.com/news/2016/2/27/baseball-picks-up-second-straight-walk-off-win.aspx

Nick Gotta was Northwest's offensive MVP on Saturday who went 2 for 3 with 2 walks in the game.

Pitching - Northwest's Anthony Caenepeel was absolutely outstanding in this game. The workhorse went 6.0 innings, allowed 5 hits, 2 runs (only 1 earned), 1 walk, 7 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he hit 1 batter in the game. Anthony battled out of a jam in the 1st inning with the poise and tenacity that makes the stuff of legends. The B2R is very proud of Anthony and his exemplary performance Saturday afternoon. In the 7th inning Austin Battaglia came into the game but had a tough day. In total, Austin did not record an out in the game, allowed 0 hits, 2 runs (only 1 earned), 1 walk, 0 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he hit 1 batter. Bryce Shea came into the game and worked the final 3.0 innings and picked-up his 2nd win in as many days for his effort. In total, Bryce allowed 2 hits, 1 unearned run, 1 walk, 4 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter. One of the neat things about Bryce's performance Saturday afternoon was he made adjustments and closed out the game. Both Anthony and Bryce had All-Conference players of the week level performances. Both pitched in high leverage situations and excelled through the adversity. What an amazing performance by the Bearcat pitching staff on Saturday afternoon.

Anthony Caenepeel worked 6.0 innings and struck-out 7 batters while only surrendering 1 walk in the game on Saturday.

B2R thoughts - Another thriller at Bearcat baseball field as your Cardiac Cats muster all the drama and late-game heroics a team can to walk-off with another 1-run victory over a MIAA Conference opponent. Both teams' starting pitchers were outstanding as neither offense could really amount much attention through the game. Northwest climbed to an early lead after Northeastern State shot out of the games with a quick 1-0 lead. Northeastern fought, scratched, and clawed their way to a late-inning lead but all was for naught as the Cardiac Cats own James Holler came through with the big hit to win the game and the Cats were rushing the field on consecutive afternoons. Worth noting, the play the tied the game was a called delayed-steal where Jay Hrdlicka broke for 2nd base late and the Northeastern State catcher threw it to 2nd base. As the catcher threw the ball, the Bearcat runner standing on 3rd broke for home. With the Bearcat dugout screaming GO GO GO, and the NESU dugout screaming HOME HOME HOME the NESU infielder rushed his throw home and over-threw his catcher hitting the back fence. The runner was safe at home and the game was tied. Oh baby, what a play.

Northwest goes for the series sweep on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at Bearcat baseball field in Maryville on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University. First pitch is 1pm. If Game 3 continues the roller coaster drama of Game 1 and Game 2, you will need a good night's sleep tonight if you plan to go to the game tomorrow.