Northwest Missouri State Bearcats Baseball Report: ESU sweeps series; NW's magic number is 1

ESU sweeps series; NW's magic number is 1

Maryville, Mo. - Finals week, graduation, Senior Day, and the Emporia State Hornets all compounded on the Bearcats this weekend and resulted in ESU sweeping the 3-game series in Maryville. Emporia State is an outstanding baseball team with the B2R's opinion is one of the great coaches in baseball, Bob Fornelli. Judging by the errors, it appeared to the B2R that the guys were just mentally out of gas especially in Game 3. The silver-lining of this however is since the games got moved up to Thursday and Friday, the team can reload, regenerate, and refocus for the last regular season series in the 2016 NCAA season. The Bearcats have a non-conference mid-week game on Tuesday that hopefully can get some playing time for reserves and then the Bearcats travel to Hays, Kansas, where Northwest needs 1 more MIAA Conference win to secure a spot in the MIAA post-season baseball tournament in St. Louis.

Despite the series result, this season's Bearcat baseball team is a special group of guys from all walks of life spanning the country to further their education at Northwest Missouri State University. Essentially forgotten by the other MIAA coaches in the pre-season poll, these Bearcats have scratched and clawed their way to 7th place in the Conference standings. In every essence this team embodies what is great about America and our Country's beginning. America began from hard working families, driven by faith, that overcame every imaginable adversity. The elements were against them, they faced opposition with more resources than they had, yet the Americans hung in there, survived, and prospered. Now apply that to a rag-tag bunch of Bearcats that others scoffed at and dismissed. What those other MIAA coaches found out was their bricks and mortar were a long way from the heart. These Bearcats have heart and a can do attitude to lay it on the line when the game starts. These Bearcats know a NCAA baseball game is not a test you take in a class, or a game decided on paper, but one where passion has a funny way of trumping the odds. In this election year, many will attempt to define America in a way that likely benefits them. At its core, America is great because we, the people, are great, comprised of heart, faith, and hard work, to make our mark with the time our good Lord will give us. As America prospers because of the working woman and man with love in their hearts, faith in their soul, and a work ethic to do good, so has been the reason for the Bearcat baseball team's success. With this ornery bunch of Bearcats embodying the values of America, they are in result the embodiment of America's team.

1 more Conference win.

Game 2

Emporia State defeated Northwest 7-1 in Game 2 of the series.

Offensively, Kolby Greenslade was Northwest's MVP in Game 2 as he went 2 for 4 at the plate. Kevin Handzlik went 1 for 4 with 1 RBI in the game. Garrett Fort went 1 for 2 with 1 walk and 1 run scored in the game. Aaron Barratt picked-up 2 walks in the game. In total, Northwest scored 1 run off of 4 hits, 1 RBI, 3 walks, 8 strike-outs, and left 8 runners on base.

Defensively, Northwest was charged with 3 errors which allowed 3 unearned runs in the game.

Pitching, Joseph Hietpas earned the start but picked-up the loss despite a quality start against the Hornets. Joe's 2016 record fell to 4-3. In total, Hietpas worked 7.0 innings pitched, 6 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 2 walks, 6 strike-outs in the game. Jacob Wagner came into the game in the 8th inning. In total, Jacob worked 0.2 of an inning, allowed 2 hits, 3 runs (only 1 earned though), 0 walks, 0 strike-outs, and 1 wild pitch in the game. Bryce Shea came into the 8th and worked 1.1 inning, allowed 3 hits, 1 unearned run, 0 walks, and 3 strike-outs.

Game 3

Emporia State defeated Northwest 7-2 in Game 3 of the series.

Offensively, Garrett Fort was Northwest's MVP in Game 3. Fort went 1 for 3 with 1 RBI in the game. Kolby Greenslade went 1 for 3 with 1 walk and 1 run scored in the game. Aaron Barratt and Jake Lewis both went 1 for 4 in the game. Ozzie Adams went 1 for 3 with a walk. In total, Northwest scored 2 runs off of 5 hits, 2 RBIs, 2 walks, 6 strike-outs, and 7 runners left on base.

Defensively, Northwest was charged with 5 errors which led to 3 unearned runs in the game.

Pitching, Brad Roberts earned the start but picked-up the loss to see his 2016 record fall to 4-3. In total, Brad worked 5.0 innings, allowed 9 hits, 7 runs (4 earned), 3 walks, and 6 strike-outs. In the 6th, Jimmy McElwain came into the game and did an outstanding job. Jimmy worked 2.1 innings and did not allow a hit or a run. Jimmy did not walk anyone either. In the 8th inning, Carson Smith came into the game and worked 1.2 inning, allowed 0 hits, 0 runs, and 0 walks. Carson has perfected a new term the B2R will use on occasion, "the Carson hat trick." Carson accomplished a "Carson hat trick" in Game 3 with 2 strike-outs and 1 wild pitch.

Next - Northwest plays its final home contest of the 2016 season on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at 3pm, on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University.