NorthwestBearcats.com - Bearcats move baseball series to Edmond, Oklahoma

Photo courtesy of Northwestbearcats.com

Maryville, Mo. - Snow fall delayed the home opener for the Northwest Missouri State baseball team yet again as their series against Central Oklahoma was moved to Edmond, Oklahoma.

Northwest will start the series Saturday with one nine-inning game scheduled to start at 1:30pm.

Read more by clicking the link below:

NorthwestBearcats.com

Go Cats!!
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NorthwestBearcats.com: Northwest splits double header with Lindenwood

Photo from northwestbearcats.com

Sauget, Ill. - The Northwest Missouri State baseball team split a double-header to end its series Monday as Lindenwood took game one 7-4 and the Bearcats grabbed game two 5-4.

The Lions scored in the top of the first and held the lead until the bottom of the third inning when Northwest had three runners cross the plate.  Cam Bedard drove in Brandon Huske and Alex Singleton with a double in the gap.  Eric McGlauflin hit a sac fly later in the inning to score Ryan Abernathy and putting the Bearcats up, 3-1.

Read more by clicking on the link below:

NorthwestBearcats.com

Series Preview - Lindenwood University

Series Preview - Lindenwood University
Single 9-inning game on Sunday, February 24, 2013, at 5pm
Double-Header on Monday, February 25, 2013, at 11am.
GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois (Home of the Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League).

Lindenwood is 2-5 so far in 2013 but is 2-1 in the MIAA.  Four of Lindenwood's losses have been on the road, 2-1 at home.  Northwest Missouri State enters the series 1-7 overall with a 1-4 MIAA Conference record.  Northwest has not played a true home game and is 1-5 on the road and 0-2 at neutral site games.

Breakdown of Lindenwood vs NWMSU:

NWMSU           LU
.256                  .264     - Batting Average
42 (5.2 avg)      31(4.4 avg) - Runs
.382                  .316    - Slugging %
.372                  .371    - On-base %
6/9                   16/18  - Stolen Bases/Attempts
.960 (11)           .952 (11)   - Fielding % (Errors)

9.84                   6.00   - Team ERA

Go Cats!!
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NorthwestBearcats.com - Bearcats Lions series shifts to St. Louis

Photo courtesy of Northwest Athletics website at northwestbearcats.com

Maryville, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State baseball will have to wait again before playing their home opener as this weekend's series against Lindenwood has shifed to the St. Louis area due to nearly a foot of snow in northwest Missouri late this week.

Read the entire article by clicking the link below:
NorthwestBearcats.com

Mid-week Re-Cap: Nebraska at Kearney

Mid-week Re-Cap - Nebraska-Kearney

Northwest lost to Nebraska-Kearney by a score 10-6 to fall to 1-6 overall, 1-3 MIAA, in a game played in Topeka.

Offensively, Cameron Bedard led the way with a 1 for 2 performance, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, 2 walks.  Eric Swain went 2 for 4 with a run scored.  Eric McGlauflin went 1 for 4 (home run) with 1 run scored, 3 RBIs.  Abernathy (double), Kanger, and Baccari (double) all earned a hit in the game.  In total, Northwest scored 6 runs off of 7 hits, 6 RBIs, 4 walks, 4 strike-outs, and 7 runners left on base.

Defensively, Northwest committed 1 error in the game (Anderson).

Pitching, Chase Anderson earned the start in Game 1 but had a tough day.  Chase worked 1.1 innings, allowed 7 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 1 walk, 1 strike-out, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and hit 1 batter.  Jace Anderson came in to relieve Chase in the 2nd inning.  Jace worked 3.2 innings, allowed 2 hits, 2 runs (both earned), 0 walks, 1 strike-out, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and hit 3 batters.  Nathanial Horton came in to relieve 6th inning, allowed 0 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 0 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and hit 0 batters.  Tyler Barth came in and pitched the 7 inning.  Barth worked 1.0 inning, allowed 2 hits, 2 runs (both earned), 1 walk, 1 strike-out, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and hit 0 batters.

In Game 2, Northwest lost a heart breaker 5-4 to fall to 1-7 overall, 1-4 MIAA.

Offensively, Abernathy (2 doubles), Bedard, Kanger, and Swain each collected 2 hits to lead the Bearcats.  Huske, Singleton, and Durant each collected a hit in the game.  In total, Northwest scored 4 runs, 11 hits, 2 RBIs, 4 walks, 2 strike-outs, and left 12 runners on base.

Defensively, Northwest committed 1 error in the game(Abernathy).

Pitching, Austin Warren had a gutty performance and worked 7.0 innings, allowed 8 hits, 3 runs (all earned) 2 walks, 5 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 1 balk, hit 1 batter, and intentionally walked 1 batter.  Nathanial Horton picked-up the loss in the game and worked 0.1 inning, allowed 1 hit, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 0 strike-outs, 1 wild pitch, 0 balks, and did not hit a batter.  Tyler Barth closed out the game and worked 2.2 innings, allowed 2 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 2 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and did not hit a batter.

B2R analysis - The Bearcats got swept on Tuesday despite solid pitching in 1 of the 2 games.  The Bearcats' offense held true and scored 10 runs in 2 games to equal their 5-runs-per-game average.  Defense was okay with 1 error coming from a pitcher in game 1 and the center fielder in game 2.  Coach Loe made a key strategic decision and moved Huske to Short Stop, Swain to 3B, and Bedard to 2B.  The decision made immediate dividends as the infield defense did not commit an error in the 2-game series.  I personally like the decision as Huske has displayed a cool ability to handle the glove.  I haven't seen a break-down of statistics for Cameron Bedard fielding as a 3B, a 2B, and a SS, but my unscientific eye-ball test makes me think Cam executes best defensively as a 2B.  There seems to be some health issues in the outfield as your regular healthy outfielders will be Krueger in Left, Abernathy in Center, and Durant in Right, with Singleton being your 4th outfielder able to play all 3 positions.  Northwest's pitching is inconsistent but improving.  Austin Warren and Blane Reutter have both had quality starts in their 2nd appearances following a tough first start.  Statistically, Jace Andeson deserves a start considering his prior two outings' success.  We will see what happens this weekend.  I believe the Bearcats will get hot very soon as long as they continue to concentrate and execute at the plate and defensively because the pitching will come around.

Go Cats!!
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NorthwestBearcats.com - Bearcats-Lopers move series to Topeka

Maryville, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State baseball team's home opener against Nebraska-Kearney has been moved to Topeka a day earlier due to predicted inclement weather in northwest Missouri.

Read more by clicking on the link below:

NorthwestBearcats.com

Weekend Re-Cap - Northeastern State

Northeastern State University

Media:

Northwestbearcats.com -
www.nwmissouri.edu/sports/baseball/2013/pressreleases/13bsb0217.htm

Goriverhawksgo.com (Northeastern State's Athletics website) -
www.goriverhawksgo.com/news/2013/2/17/BB_0217132942.aspx

In Game 1, Northwest beat Northeastern State by a score 7-5 to improve its 2013 record to 1-3 overall, 1-0 MIAA.

Offensively, Northwest jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the Top of the 1st.  The Bearcats had a balanced attack with 7 of 9 batters earning a hit on top of the 5 walks in the game.  Ryan Abernathy (CF) went 1 for 4 with 1 walk, 3 runs scored.  Brandon Huske (2B) went 1 for 4 with 1 walk.  Eric Swain (SS) went 1 for 5 with 2 RBIs.  Eric McGlauflin (DH) went 1 for 3 with 1 run scored, 1 walk.  JJ Baccari (C) went 1 for 4 with 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 walk.  Charlie Krueger (LF) went 1 for 4 (a home run) with 3 RBIs, 1 run scored.  Cam Bedard (3B) went 1 for 4.  In total, Northwest scored 7 runs out of 7 hits, 6 RBIs, 5 walks, 3 strike-outs, and left 7 runners on base.

Defensively, Northwest committed 2 errors (Swain and Reutter) and did not execute a double-play in the game.

Pitching, Blane Reutter earned his first victory as a Bearcat to see his 2013 record advance to 1-1.  Blane worked a complete game gem.  In total, Blane pitched 9.0 innings, allowed 10 hits, 5 earned runs (all earned), 1 walk, 5 strike-outs, 2 wild pitches, 0 balks, hit 0 batters, and threw 110 pitches.  A closer look at the numbers though, Blane allowed only 2 runs and 7 hits through 8 innings.  In the 9th inning, NSU earned 3 hits, 3 runs, and Northwest committed 1 error and 2 wild pitches to make the game a little interesting.  Clearly, Blane was gassed going into the 9th inning but had the guts to knuckle-down and get the job down.  Kudos to Blane for an exemplary performance.  The kid deserved it after a tough start in Arkansas and all the hard work he put in the off-season.

In Game 2, Northwest lost to Northeastern State 7-2 in a 7-inning contest which was the first game of a double-header with the Riverhawks in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  Northwest's 2013 record fell to 1-4, 1-1 MIAA.

Offensively, the Bearcats were led by newcomer Brandon Huske (2B) with his 2 for 3 performance (including a double and a triple), with 1 RBI, and 1 run scored.  Ryan Abernathy went 1 for 3 with a double, Eric McGlauflin went 1 for 3 with a triple, and Cameron Bedard went 1 for 3 in the game to pace the Bearcats offense.  In total, Northwest scored 2 runs off of 5 hits, 2 RBIs, 0 walks, and 2 strike-outs.

Defensively, Northwest committed 2 errors with Brandon Huske and Eric Swain both being tagged in the game. 

Pitching, Marcus Garrett earned the start for his second start this season but saw his record fall to 0-2.  Marcus worked 3.0 innings, allowed 5 hits, 4 runs (all earned), 1 walk, 3 strike-outs, 1 wild pitch, 0 balks, and hit 0 batters.  Marcus gave-up 2 runs in the first inning, but did not give-up any runs in the 2nd inning.  However, the 3rd inning did not bode well and Marcus give-up 2 additional runs to end his day for Northwest.  Chase Anderson came in the 4th inning to relieve Marcus and gave-up 2 runs that inning.  Chase did not allow any runs in the 5th inning.  In the 6th inning, an unearned run scored.  In total, Chase worked 3.0 innings, he allowed 6 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 0 walks, 4 strike-outs, 0 balks, and hit 0 batters.

In Game 4, Northwest lost the rubber-game to Northeastern State 11-8 and fell to 1-5, 1-2 MIAA.

Offensively, Charlie Krueger (LF) paced the Bearcats with a 2 for 4 performance (including a grand slam) with 4 RBIs, 1 run scored, 1 walk.  Not to be out-done, Tyler Durant (RF) went 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs.  Also of note, Cameron Bedard (3B) went 2 for 3 (including a double) with 2 runs scored and 2 walks, Eric McGlauflin (DH) went 2 for 4 (including a double) with 2 runs scored and a walk, JJ Baccari (C) went 1 for 3 with 2 runs scored and 2 walks, Matt Kanger (1B) went 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs, 1 run scored.  Eric Swain (SS) went 1 for 5 in the game.  Despite not getting credit for a hit in the game, Brandon Huske (2B) drew 2 walks in the game.  In total, Northwest scored 8 runs off of 12 hits, 8 RBIs, 8 walks, 7 strike-outs, and 12 runners left on base.

Defensively, Northwest committed 2 errors (Swain and Kanger) and did not execute a double-play in the game.

Pitching, Ryker Fox earned the start, his second of the season, and had a tough outing.  Ryker started out well and did not allow a run in the first and second inning.  Ryker ran into trouble in the 3rd inning and allowed 3 runs.  Unfortunately, the wheels came off in the 4th for Ryker where he faced 4 batters, did not record an out, and was charged with all four of those batters scoring.  In total, Ryker worked 3.0 innings, allowed 7 hits, 7 runs (all earned), 1 walk, 1 strike-out, 1 wild pitch, 0 balks, and hit 0 batters in a 76-pitch effort.  Patrick Brady came in to relieve Ryker in the 4th inning.  In total, Patrick worked 1.2 innings, allowed 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 3 strike-outs, 1 wild pitch, 0 balks, and hit 1 batter in a 36-pitch effort.  Tyler Barth came in the 5th inning and worked 1.2 innings, allowed 3 hits, 4 runs (all earned), 1 walk, 3 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and hit 1 batter in a 39-pitch effort.  Finally, Nathanial Horton came in to relieve Tyler in the 7th inning and pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowed 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strike-out, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and hit 0 batters in a 16-pitch effort.

B2R Analysis - A disappointing finish to a promising start to the weekend for the Bearcats.  Pitching has had a tough start to the 2013 season with a 10.13 team ERA after the first two series.  After a promising first weekend of defense, Northwest did not execute well in Tahlequah and saw their fielding percentage drop to near 2012 level.  Steven Garber has had a tough start to the 2013 season in that he does not have a hit despite 5 starts.  I'm guessing Coach Loe gave Steven Game 2 off just because I'm sure he must have been pressing during his most recent at-bats.  Eric Swain and Jon Pomatto have also got off to slow starts.  They will come around.  On the bright side, JJ Baccari is forcing the NWMSU Coaching Staff's hand by batting a team leading .385, slugging .615%, an on-base percentage of .500%, and a 1.000 fielding percentage.  Eric McGlauflin is being very productive as a DH despite rehabbing an injury and is batting .350, slugging .550%, and has an on-base percentage of .500%.  Ryan Abernathy is performing at an All-Conference level and batting .348, slugging .478%, and has an on-base percentage of .444% (with a 1.000 fielding percentage).  Charlie Krueger is leading the team in slugging percentage of .632%.  Brandon Huske has only committed 1 error in 6 games while batting .286, slugging .429%, and on-base .464%.  Tyler Durant is batting a cool .300, slugging .300%, and on-base .417% of the time.

Exciting times are ahead because Northwest finally gets some home cooking for its games with the home opener on Tuesday (Double-header with Nebraska-Kearney) and a weekend series against Lindenwood.  Following the Lindenwood series, Northwest takes on Central Oklahoma to conclude the home stand.  Every phase of Northwest needs to improve but the talent is there to make the necessary adjustments.  The season is very young and winning one game goes along way to get the confidence going for the guys.  Approaching the series against Nebraska-Kearney one game at a time is a must.  The good news is Northwest is averaging over 5 runs per game (scored less than 5 runs in only 2 of their 6 games) so getting the defense and pitching to settle in will garner immediate returns for the Bearcats.

Raise your hand if you can't wait for Tuesday to cheer on our Bearcats.

Go Cats!!
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