Washburn wins Game 3, 9-2

Washburn wins Game 3, 9-2

Topeka, KS - Washburn unloaded an offensive showcase against Northwest en route to a lopsided 9-2 victory to win Game 3 and the weekend series. Northwest's 2016 record fell to 10-8, 5-4 MIAA with the loss of Game 3. 

In an ironic turn of events, Northwest played their best defense all series in Game 3. Ozzie Adams was terrific at second base with several outstanding plays throughout the game. The highlight was a double-play ground ball: The Washburn batter hits a grounder not quite hard enough to make the 6-4-3 a routine play. Short Stop Nick Gotta cleanly fielded the ball and flipped it to Ozzie covering second base. With a Washburn runner hustling hard to beat the flip to second, Ozzie caught the ball with his bare hand and threw it on point and with enough gas to beat the Washburn batter hustling to first base in a bang-bang play to end the inning. All the Bearcats did an outstanding job playing defense in Game 3. Jay Hrdlicka was solid behind the plate at catcher. Handzlik is just a pro defensively and can go anywhere the coaching staff needs him. Nick Gotta was terrific at short stop. I already discussed Ozzie Adams at second base. Jake Lewis may be the best athlete in the infield and catches everything in his zip code. The outfield trio of Greenslade in left field, Fort in center field, and Barratt in right field covers a lot of ground and tracks the ball very well. Defensively, Northwest did a great job and kudos to them for keeping their concentration even during difficult circumstances.

Offensively, Washburn pitching had another terrific game that kept Northwest in check. Game 3 was one of those contests in baseball where you tip your cap to your opponent and say job well done. Then, hit it hard the next day to prepare for the upcoming opponent. There is no time to lick your wounds in baseball, nor is there anything wrong with Northwest's offense. Washburn's pitching was working in Game 2 and 3. Congrats. We will see you in the MIAA post-season tournament.

Other bright spots in addition to the above - Hondo Pearcy and Jimmy McElwain did an outstanding job on the mound for Northwest. Washburn was trying hard to score the 10th run. Both Hondo and Jimmy faced high leverage at bats and initiated soft contact with their stuff. Good for them and an Attaboy from the B2R. Also worth noting, Austin Wulff came into the game and hit the ball hard. In addition, James Holler smoked the ball hard in his at bats. Holler and Wulff are arguably Northwest's best offensive power threat. If those two can get hot, the rest of the MIAA is on notice, it will be epic.

Offense - Northwest managed 5 hits against the Washburn pitchers in Game 3, but didn't collect their first hit until the top of the 6th inning. Garrett Fort went 1 for 3 in the game. Nick Howard went 1 for 2 after he entered the game as a defensive substitution at 3B. James Holler went 1 for 2 (a double) with a run scored after entering the game as a pinch hitter then remaining in the game at first base. Aaron Barratt went 1 for 4 with a run scored in the game. Austin Wulff went 1 for 3 (a double) entering the game as a pinch hitter then playing right field. In total, Northwest scored 2 runs off of 5 hits, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 5 strike-outs, and left 7 runners on base. 

Defense - Northwest was not charged with an error and turned 1 double play in the game. 

Pitching - Brad Roberts earned the start for Northwest but had a tough day to see his 2016 record fall to 1-2. Washburn came out swinging and they did not miss when they connected with the ball. In total, Brad worked 1.1 inning, allowed 6 hits, 5 runs (all earned), 0 walks, 0 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he hit 1 batter. Nikko Pablo came into the game in the 2nd inning and attempted to stop the bleeding. Nikko did his best and did what he could to slow down Washburn's offense. In total, Nikko worked 3.2 innings, allowed 5 hits, 4 runs (all earned), 0 walks, 5 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he hit 3 batters. In the 6th inning, Hondo Pearcy came into the game and did an outstanding job on the mound for the Bearcats. In total, Hondo worked 2.0 innings, allowed 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strike-out, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter. In the bottom of the 8th inning, Jimmy McElwain came into the game and worked 1.0 inning, allowed 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 1 strike-out, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.

B2R's thoughts on the series - Northwest lost its first conference series in 2016. It was on the road, to a team pre-season ranked #6 by the MIAA coaches, that came down to the final game in the series. Bright spots from the series include the Bearcats fighting hard to win Game 1 in extra innings, terrific bullpen work in Games 2 and 3 from John Osborne, Austin Battaglia, Carson Smith, Hondo Pearcy, and Jimmy McElwain, and honestly the energy coming out of the dugout in Game 3 in a lopsided contest. Kudos to the Bearcat crowd in attendance in Washburn in Game 3 as they were cheering on the 'Cats even late into the game. The energy was there for Northwest all series.

If the B2R had some encouragement it is to tip your cap instead of a frustrated look at the umpire when a call doesn't go your way. Northwest will get those calls too in the game. The B2R loves the passion but keep it a chess match and don't telegraph to the opposing pitcher you are frustrated.

NWMSU Athletics' Department story link on Game 3 - http://www.bearcatsports.com/news/2016/3/12/baseball-at-wasburn-march-12.aspx

Next - Every day there is baseball is a great day. Northwest will get home in time to do laundry, catch-up on home work, hit in the cage, and climb on board the bus again to travel to a mid-week road contest against Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois. The two teams will play a single 9-inning game on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at 3pm. Northwest and Quincy matched-up in 2015 and both contests were incredible baseball games. Quincy is a terrific baseball club and another fine non-conference opponent to challenge Northwest. Someone besides the Starting 3 will get an opportunity to start a baseball game for Northwest on Tuesday. I am extremely excited to see who get the opportunity. After the mid-week contest against Quincy University, Northwest returns home for a huge 3-game home series against Lincoln University. Game 1 of the Lincoln series is Friday, March 18, 2016, at 3pm, Game 2 is Saturday, March 19, 2016, at 2pm, and Game 3 is Sunday, March 20, at 1pm.

Go Cats!!

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