Northwest Missouri State Bearcats Baseball Report: Weekend Recap

Opening Thoughts - Northwest lost 3 of 4 to Emporia State this past weekend in Emporia, Kansas. Emporia entered the weekend series ranked #16 in the NCAA Division 2. My expectations going into this series were the Hornets would be the toughest test the Bearcats had faced so far this season. I also thought Northwest's pitching and offense could muster a weekend split of the series at 2 games each. Looking at the statistics, Northwest scored enough runs to split the series but the pitching wasn't there in games 1, 2, & 3. Games 1 & 3 you chalk up Emporia playing a better baseball game. Chris Green did his best but Emporia's offense is incredible and even Chris couldn't keep them from scoring. Game 3 was just a woodshed moment for Bearcat pitching. A couple of the Bearcat pitchers did not record an out despite facing multiple batters. You have to tip your cap to Emporia in Game 3, call uncle, and go get'em in the fourth and final game.

Game 2 stings because the Bearcats had the lead going into the bottom of the last inning. I think one of the final lessons a team that is transitioning into a winning team learns is handling the pressure of a late game lead: the tendency is to, perhaps, tighten up, press, while the other team is playing believing it can come back. We all gain confidence after we've done something a couple of times and had success. This too will come for the Bearcats, and when they play with confidence as to their abilities late in the game, the Bearcats will be trading Game 2's walk-off loss to a Game 2 victory and a series split with a top 20 team on the road. In my opinion, the bottom line that the Bearcats should take away from this series is that they can win on the road at a top 20 powerhouse. When you look at each game, you can see where the Bearcats should be walking out of Emporia with 2 wins had they executed a few pitches and made some plays in the final frame. Believe this: The Bearcats keep fighting, they will have another chance at the Hornets where more marbles will be on the table.

I am glad to see some of the young Bearcat pitchers making their debuts this season. I thought a lot of the new guys were thrown into the middle of a M.A.S.H. unit and told to stop the bleeding. A B2R shout-out to Jacob Raffaele, Adam Funke, Austin Bergert, and Tyler Barth for all doing a very good job in their Bearcat debuts. There is nothing more fun to watch then a pitcher that forces a coach to put him in, or keep him in, because of how well he is executing his pitches.

In Game 1, Northwest (4-9 Overall, 3-2 MIAA) lost 3-8 to Emporia (7-3 Overall, 3-2 MIAA) in a game that took 2:45 to complete in front of 135 fans. Chris Green took the loss and saw his season record fall to 2-1 after he worked 5.0 innings, allowed 9 hits, 8 runs (7 earned), 3 walks, and 2 strike-outs. Jacob Raffaele made his Bearcat debut and pitched 1.0 inning, allowed 0 hits, 0 runs, and 1 walk in a fine performance.

Defensively, the Bearcats allowed 1 unearned run and committed 2 errors.

Offensively, the Bearcats only mustered 4 hits and 1 walk, but were very efficient with those hits and walk by scoring 3 runs. Northwest only left 4 runners on base and had 4 strike-outs in the game. The Bearcats scored all 3 runs in the final frame so give credit to Emporia's Brandon Faulkner for a dominant performance. Statistically, Faulkner is the best pitcher the Bearcats have faced all season. Northwest's offensive leaders include:

Ryan Abernathy went 1 for 4;
Cameron Bedard went 0 for 2, but earned the only walk for the Bearcats in the game;
Eric McGlauflin went 1 for 3 with a run scored;
Cole Mapes went 1 for 1 with a run scored in a pinch hitting role;
Jake Kretzer went 1 for 3 with 1 RBI;
Travis Green and Jon Pomatto both got hit by a pitch.

In Game 2, Northwest (4-10, 3-3 MIAA) lost to Emporia State (8-3, 4-2 MIAA) 6-9 in a heartbreaker fashion in a game that took 2:45 to compete in front of 145 fans. Jace Anderson had arguably his best outing of the year and was doing outstanding until he ran into trouble in the Bottom of the 7th inning (Jace's last inning). Jace worked 6.1 innings, allowed 9 hits, 4 runs (3 earned)(2 of which came in the bottom of the 7th inning), 2 walks, and 3 strike-outs. Carson Smith picked up the loss and saw his season record fall to 0-1. Carson worked 2.0 innings, allowed 5 hits, 5 runs (all earned), 1 walk, 2 strike-outs. Carson allowed 1 run when he first came in the game in the Bottom of the 7th inning, cruised through the 8th inning, but the wheels came off the bottom of the 9th where Emporia scored a walk-off home run.

Defensively, the Bearcats allowed 1 unearned run and committed 3 errors.

Offensively as a team, Northwest scored 6 runs, hit 7 base hits, 5 RBIs, 3 walks, 12 strike-outs, and left 5 runners on base. The offensive leaders are as follows:

Tyler Durant went 2 for 3 (1 2b) with 1 run scored and 1 walk;
Eric Swain went 1 for 3 (home run) with 1 RBI, 1 run scored, and 1 walk;
Cameron Bedard went 1 for 4 with 1 RBI;
Travis Green went 1 for 4 (a double) with 1 RBI;
Steven Garber went 1 for 3 (a double) with 1 RBI and 1 walk;
Jake Kretzer went 1 for 4 with 1 RBI and 1 walk.

In Game 3, Northwest (4-11, 3-4 MIAA) lost to Emporia State (9-3, 5-2 MIAA) by a score of 3-16 in a game that took 1:54 to complete in front of a good crowd of 235. Marcus Garrett had a tough outing and took the loss in the game. Marcus' record fell to 0-2 on the year. Statistically, Marcus faced 5 batters but did not record an out, pitched 0.0 innings, allowed 4 hits, 5 runs (all earned) and 1 walk. Nick Caldrone came in relief of Marcus to stop the bleeding and pitched 1.0 innings, allowed 4 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 1 strike-out, and faced 7 batters (he made it through 2 batters in the 2nd inning). Sean Brady came in relief of Nick, faced 4 batters, but did not record an out, pitched 0.0 innings, allowed 2 hits, 4 runs (all earned), 1 walk, and hit 1 batter. Adam Funke made his Bearcat debut and got the Bearcats some much needed innings as Adam worked 3.0 innings, allowed 7 hits, 4 runs (all earned), and 1 strike-out. Austin Burgert made his Bearcat debut and worked a near perfect inning, in total, he pitched 1.0 innings, allowed 1 hit and 0 runs while facing 4 batters. Tyler Barth also made his Bearcat debut and a perfect 1.0 inning, allowing no hits, no runs, and struck-out 3 batters.

Defensively, the Bearcats committed 1 error.

Offensively, Northwest scored 3 runs off of 8 hits and left 5 runners on base. The offensive leaders were as follows:

Eric Swain went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored by hitting 2 home runs;
Steven Garber went 1 for 1 with 1 RBI (a double) and got hit by a pitch;
Eric McGlauflin went 1 for 2 with 1 run scored and a walk;
Abernathy, Durant, Eckhardt, and Kretzer all got a base hit in the game.

In Game 4, Northwest (5-11, 4-4 MIAA) beat Emporia State (9-4, 5-3 MIAA) 10-6 in a game that took 2:45 to complete in front of another good crowd of 345 fans. The two positive stories of the game are (1) the bats and (2) pitching. The downer story of the game is the Bearcats committed 4 errors that led to 4 unearned runs. The most important story is the Bearcats won the game.

Chase Anderson earned the victory and saw his record improve to 1-2 in arguably his finest performance this season. In total, Chase worked 7.1 innings, allowed 9 hits, 5 runs (only 1 earned), 3 walks, 3 strike-outs, and faced 37 batters. Chase induced 12 ground-outs and 6 fly-ball outs in the performance. Josh Parrish worked the final 1.2 innings, allowed 2 hits, 1 earned run, 1 strike-out. Parrish induced 3 ground-ball outs.

Defensively, the Bearcats committed 4 errors in the game which resulted in 4 unearned runs.

Offensively, Northwest scored 10 runs off of 15 hits, 4 walks, 1 stolen base, and 7 strike-outs. The Bearcats left 6 runners on base. The offensive leaders are as follows:

Eric Swain went 3 for 4 (including a double and a home run) with 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored, 1 walk;
Ryan Abernathy went 4 for 5 (including a double) with 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored;
Cameron Bedard went 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs and 1 run scored;
Jake Kretzer went 3 for 5 (including a home run), 2 RBIs, and 2 runs scored;
Jon Pomatto went 2 for 3 with a run scored.