Missouri Southern wins Game 1

Missouri Southern wins Game 1

Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Lions defeated your Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat baseball team 7-4 in Joplin on Friday night. Both teams played excellent defense but the Lions scored 4 runs in the 3rd and kept the Bearcats at arm's length away for the rest of the game. The game only took 2 hours 13 minutes to complete. It was a beautiful day in Joplin with the temperature hovering around 65 degrees and sunny. The announced attendance was 471 patrons. 

Offense - Kevin Handzlik was Northwest's MVP in Game 1. In total, Handzlik went 3 for 4 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored while playing first base. Aaron Barratt went 2 for 4 while playing right field. Kolby Greenslade went 1 for 3 while playing left field. Ozzie Adams went 1 for 3 with 1 run scored and 1 walk in the game. In total, Northwest scored 4 runs off of 7 hits, 2 RBIs, 4 walks, 6 strike-outs, and left 4 runners on base. 

Defense - Northwest was charged with 1 error in the game which led to 1 unearned run in the game. In the game, James Holler played third base and Kevin Handzlik played first base. Both did exceptionally well with Holler handling hot shots to third base and Handzlik caught some back-handed scoops to save errors in the game.

Pitching - Anthony Caenepeel earned the start in the game but picked-up the loss to see his 2016 record fall to 4-5. In total, Anthony worked 7.0 innings, allowed 12 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), 2 walks, 3 strike-outs, 1 wild pitch, 0 balks, and he hit 2 batters in the game. Bryce Shea came into the game in the 8th inning and worked 0.2 of an inning, allowed 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 walks, 0 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter in the game. Jacob Wagner came into the game to close out the inning and worked 0.1 of an inning, allowed 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strike-out, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he did not hit a batter.

Next - Game 2 of the Series starts Saturday at 1pm in Joplin.

Go Cats!!
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