DURANT, Oklahoma - The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team came up short in its 2020 season opener at Southeastern Oklahoma State on Friday, 8-1.
After a quiet first inning, senior infielder Colton Buckner got the Savage Storm on the board first, hitting a solo home run to left-center field, giving Southeastern Oklahoma State the one-run advantage in the second.
The Bearcats evened the score at a run apiece in the fourth inning, following junior infielder Peter Carlson’s solo homer over the left field fence.
Southeastern Oklahoma State answered with five runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to take the 8-1 lead. The Savage Storm notched four home runs during the contest.
The Savage Storm and Bearcats held one another scoreless through the final three innings.
On the bump, senior Quintin Van Ackeren got the start for Northwest, throwing 69 pitches. Van Ackeren completed four and 2/3 innings pitched, allowing five runs (five earned) on six hits and struck out three in his first appearance of the 2020 season. Tanner Smith, Daniel Smith, Aaron Duncan, Blaine Hanf and Thomas Henrichs also pitched during 2020’s inaugural outing.
Northwest and Southeastern Oklahoma State will complete a doubleheader Saturday with first pitch scheduled at 12 p.m. Game two will follow the conclusion of the first game.
NOTES: Carlson went 2-for-3 with two hits and a RBI…Jacob Pinkerton went 2-for-4 with two singles…Connor Quick went 1-of-2 with a single.
--- Northwest Athletics ---