Maryville, Mo. - Joseph Hietpas and the Bearcat bullpen came through again as Northwest beat Southern 6-2 thanks to a big 8th inning on Saturday in Maryville. Hietpas did not allow a run until the 6th inning. Hietpas made Southern go 3 up 3 down in the first 3 innings of the game. In the 4th, the only runner that reached base was due to a 2-out bunt. Hietpas reduced one of the most potent offenses in recent MIAA history to a bunt after almost 4 innings of failure. Attaboy Joe. Your Bearcat baseball team is now 23-10, 12-8 MIAA, and currently sit in 5th place by mere percentage points in the MIAA standings.
Hang in there Bearcat fans, this baseball team has a make-up of the 2015 Kansas City Royals team with strong starting pitching, exemplary lights out bullpen, strong defense, and timely hitting.
In the game, Northwest was trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the 8th inning. To start the bottom of the 8th, Southern made a few defensive changes to first and second base. James Holler was the first Bearcat batter and was hit by the first pitch of the inning. Jay Hrdlicka promptly laid down the perfect bunt and safely reached base. With runners on first (Hrdlicka) and second (Holler), Coach Loe pinch hit Kevin Handzlik for Luke Wilkinson. Handzlik put down a sacrifice bunt advancing Holler to third and Hrdlicka to second with 1 out. Coach Loe pinch ran Joseph Curtis for Jay Hrdlicka at second base. Kolby Greenslade grounded out for the second out. The runners did not advance with two outs. Logan Rycraft then walked to load the bases with two outs. Garrett Fort came through in the clutch, again, and scored 2 Bearcat runners. Fort advanced to second on the throw. Southern made a pitching change. The pitching change did not work. Ozzie Adams singled to left field and scored 2 runs. Landon Figg singled to right field and Ozzie Adams advanced to third base. Southern made another pitching change. Coach Loe called a double steal and it worked to perfection as Figg successfully stole second and Ozzie Adams successfully stole home. Luke Hassman was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first (Hassman) and second (Figg). Southern made another pitching change. Holler then struck out to end the inning after scoring 5 runs, 4 hits, and left 2 runners on base.
Offensively, Garrett Fort was Northwest's most valuable player in the game. Garrett went 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs and 1 run scored as the Bearcat center fielder. Ozzie Adams went 1 for 5 with 2 RBIs and a run scored as the Bearcat second baseman. Landon Figg, 3B, went 1 for 2 with 3 walks and 1 run scored in the game. Luke Hassman went 1 for 4 as the Bearcat right fielder. James Holler, 1B, went 1 for 4 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored in the game. Jay Hrdlicka, C, went 1 for 3 with 1 walk on the day. Luke Wilkinson went 1 for 3 as the Bearcat designated hitter. Kolby Greenslade, LF, went 1 for 3 with 1 walk in the game. Logan Rycraft earned a walk and scored a run as the Bearcat short stop. In total, Northwest scored 6 runs off of 9 hits, 5 RBIs, 6 walks, 10 strike-outs, and left 11 runners on base.
Defensively, Northwest committed 1 error that led to 1 unearned run in the game.
Pitching, Joseph Hietpas earned the start in the game. Hietpas pitched an exemplary game and worked 6.0 innings, allowed 5 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 1 walk and 5 strike-outs in the game. In the 7th inning, Jacob Wagner came into the game and worked 1.0 inning without allowing a hit or a run. In the 8th, Austin Battaglia came into the game and worked 1.0 inning without allowing a hit or a run. Austin picked-up the win for his effort and saw his 2017 record climb to 3-0. Nikko Pablo came into the game in the 9th inning and worked 1.0, allowed 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks and 2 strike-outs in the game.
NWMSU's article on the game - http://www.bearcatsports.com/news/2017/4/8/baseball-mssu-saturday.aspx
Next - Northwest goes for the series sweep on Sunday, April 9th, in Maryville. First pitch is 1pm at Bearcat baseball field.
Go Cats!!
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