‘Dramatic’ Bearcats secure sweep over Washburn with 5-run eighth
JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Northwest senior Jacob Selock sails around third base after a home run on Monday against Washburn at The Cat.
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Down one in the bottom of the ninth, down one in the bottom of the eighth, tied in the bottom of the eighth — no matter the situation, the Bearcats (9-8; 3-3 MIAA) had an answer this weekend in a 3-game sweep of Washburn.
On Saturday in a game moved to Topeka, Northwest Missouri State was down to its last out when Parker Griffith singled and leadoff hitter Ashton Neuman delivered the walk-off 2-run homer for an 8-7 win.
“We have a love for the dramatic for sure,” Northwest senior Jacob Selock said.
On Sunday, it was the middle of the lineup’s turn for late-game fireworks. Northwest built a 7-0 lead in the third inning, but Washburn roared back for a 12-11 lead in the eighth inning. Another 2-out rally delivered the victory though with Kaehukai Young hitting a bases-clearing 3-run triple for the 15-12 lead and Brock Steggall picked up the save after getting the win the day before.
“There is just no quit with these guys,” Northwest coach Tony Jandron said.
That set the table for Monday and the first 70-degree afternoon of the season at The Cat. With their first 3-game sweep in three years within reach, but a depleted bullpen with eight pitchers going the day before, Jandron gave the ball to senior lefty George Fisher and the Smithville product delivered.
“That was his longest outing of the year, but her really commanded the ball and stayed down,” Jandron said. “He is a crafty left hander and he really showed that today by keeping guys off balanced.”
Fisher got into the sixth inning with 5 2/3 innings of 5-hit, 3-run baseball.
“George is a dog on the mound,” Northwest senior Alex Bowers said. “When he is in a zone, he is in a zone. He lets us play defense behind him. If we play defense, we are going to win a lot of games this year.”
With the way the bats were heating up with the weather, Northwest was very happy with the effort from Fisher. Fisher’s high-school teammate Chester Brooks got the Bearcats on the board in the second inning with a 2-run home run — his first collegiate homer.
“First college home run — felt pretty good to finally get that one under the belt,” Brooks said. “The swing’s been a little iffy this year, but I think I finally found it and the swing feels great now.”
In the fourth inning, the bottom of the order got the team going again with Selock blasting a lead-off homer from the nine-spot. The Bearcats ended up batting around and Brooks added to his career day with a 2-run single for the 6-1 lead.
Washburn clawed back with the wind blowing out and battled back to tie the game at 6-6 in the seventh inning. Neuman came out of center field to pitch for the third time this season and Washburn jumped on him with a 2-run double to tie the game.
After Washburn held Northwest scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, the Bearcats needed Neuman to buckle down in the eighth and he did, working around a 2-out error for a clean frame.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Bearcat bats got rolling again. Bowers singled to left for the go-ahead run with one out, plating Brady Miles.
“Just trying to put a ball in play there,” Bowers said. “Trying to stick to my approach and do what I do best. … I got a ball I could drive, found a hole and thankfully, Brady scored from second.”
Northwest added on as Selock continued his big day with a 2-run double for a 9-6 lead.
“It felt like a beach ball today,” Selock said. “I’ve kinda been struggling at the plate the last couple series.”
The Bearcats added two more as shortstop Dylan Hufft singled home Neuman and Selock with two outs for the 11-6 margin.
That is where the game finished as Neuman closed out his big series with a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the win.
“He wants the ball and he is a competitor,” Jandron said.
Brooks went 3-for-3 with four RBI, two runs and walk. Monday was the most hits, RBI and runs he’s had in his college career as well as his first home run.
“It is my first time in three years that we’ve been able to sweep,” Brooks said. “It is a good team win. This chemistry we have this year is something that you can’t teach.”
Selock had two hits while Bowers, Griffith, Miles, Hufft and Neuman each had one. Neuman’s big series clearly affected the Ichabods on Monday as Neuman was 1-for-1 with five walks.
“We take it day by day with this program,” Jandron said. “We want to have a ton of excitement and be that team that wants to be here more. I certainly thought that we were that team this weekend. We just want to keep things rolling in the right direction.”
Northwest is in Liberty on Tuesday for a midweek game with William Jewell. The Bearcats hit the road again this weekend for a 3-game series with Pittsburg State.
“They teach energy,” Bowers said of the new coaches.
