ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team lost both games of their doubleheader at home Saturday against Northeastern State. MWSU dropped the opener, 12-7, before falling in game two, 6-3. The Griffons are now 5-14 this season and 4-10 in the MIAA, while NSU improves to 12-5 and 10-4 in league play.
GAME 1 – Northeastern State 12, Missouri Western 7
The Griffons hit a season high five home runs in the opener Saturday, but four of those were solo homers and MWSU wasn't able to keep up with Northeastern State's offense. The RiverHawks hit three home runs, had 13 total hits and knocked Missouri Western starter
Jared Wells out in the fifth inning.
The Griffs rallied from a six-run deficit to pull within three runs, 10-7, in the seventh inning, but that was as close as they could get. Wells (0-1) suffered the loss as he allowed seven runs and eight hits in 4+ innings of work.
Alex Crouch hit two home runs for MWSU, while
Brady Holden,
Bailey Crump and
Maurice Bruce also went deep. Holden, Crouch and
Colby Tam led Missouri Western with two hits each.
GAME 2 – Northeastern State 6, Missouri Western 3
The Griffons had to play catch up in game two as well as Northeastern State put up four runs in the second inning to take an early lead. Crouch pulled MWSU within two runs, 4-2, in the third inning with his third home run of the day, but they weren't able to get any closer. NSU added two runs in the sixth inning before Missouri Western got an RBI double from Bruce in the eighth.
Gustavo Gonzalez and Tam led the Griffons with two hits each, while
Jordan Akins threw a complete game on the mound. He went all nine innings and allowed four earned runs on eight hits. Akins struck out five and walked three.
UP NEXT
Missouri Western and Northeastern State wrap up their three-game series Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at the Griffon Spring Sports Complex. The game will be live on the MIAA Network.
