JOPLIN, Missouri – In a contest between Bearcats, the Northwest Missouri State University baseball team came up short against McKendree University Monday, dropping its last game of the MIAA/GLVC Challenge 3-2.
McKendree tallied the first runs of the afternoon, plating two runs in the bottom of the second to take an early 2-0 advantage.
After stagnant third and fourth innings by both offenses, Northwest got the ball rolling in the fifth, crossing a run and cutting the lead in half at 2-1. With one out, junior DMACC transfer Jordan Pinkerton tripled to deep right-center field, giving Northwest life on the base paths. Pinkerton scored when senior first baseman Connor Quick reached on a fielder's choice.
McKendree answered with a run of its own in the home half of the fifth, increasing its lead back to two.
In the top of the sixth, junior infielder Peter Carlson doubled down the right-field line. With two outs, senior infielder Tim Olson singled through the left side of the infield, allowing the speedy Carlson to score from second base. Northwest clawed into the McKendree lead 3-2.
McKendree held the explosive Northwest offense scoreless throughout the final three innings to hang onto a 3-2 victory. Northwest left 12 runners on base during Monday's action.
Junior Dodge City CC transfer Jonathan McIntyre got the start on the mound for Northwest, throwing four 1/3 innings. McIntyre allowed three runs (three earned) on five hits while adding two strikeouts to his 2020 season total (11). Junior righty Aaron Duncan earned the final two outs of the fifth and was relieved by sophomore Daniel Smith in the sixth. Smith dealt the final three innings of the contest going unscathed, not allowing a hit while striking out one.
Northwest will be back in action as it travels to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to take on UC-Colorado Springs in a three-game series. Action will begin Friday, Feb. 21, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. (CT).
NOTES: Northwest outhit McKendree, 7-5 … Northwest's offense tallied two doubles and two triples … Quick extended his team-best 11-game reached base streak ... Olsen extended team-leading six-game on hitting streak … Pinkerton earned his fourth multiple-hit game of the season … six different Northwest batters notched hits (Pinkerton, Quick, Matt Gastner, Carlson, Olson, Trevor Dooley).
--- Northwest Athletics ---