Bearcats open third MIAA series with victory
HENRY JANSSEN/DAILY FORUM
Joe Hietpas, Northwest pitcher, prepares to release a breaking ball in a masterful 5-1 victory against Washburn. Hietpas advances to 2-1 on the year, and the Bearcats are now 3-4 in conference play.
What a difference a week makes.
After Lindenwood and Northwest Missouri State University swapped runs in the early stages of Joe Hietpas’ start in last Friday’s no decision, Bearcat coach Darin Loe said that the junior looked out of sorts.
After Thursday’s 5-1 home victory over Washburn (11-7, 3-4 MIAA), Loe was pleased with just how much progress the right-hander had made in a week.
Hietpas (2-1) allowed just two hits – coming against consecutive batters in the fourth inning – in a complete game. It was his sixth start of the season. The Bearcats move to 11-6 overall and 3-4 in the conference.
“I thought Joe pitched tremendously today,” Loe said. “He had his velocity back. About the third inning, he found his breaking ball and his changeup. When Joe has three pitches, he can be tough to hit. We played great defense behind him. He got sick in about Week 2 of the season, and that took a lot more out of him then we thought.”
The game was scoreless through three innings before the Ichabods altered the scoreboard in the top of the fourth, singling and doubling in consecutive at-bats to score Brett Nickle. In the bottom of four, the Bearcats responded with a Luke Hassman single and Ichabod throwing error to score Ozzie Adams.
Both pitchers dictated the game until the sixth inning when Adams crossed the plate once again on a Landon Figg single, and in the seventh inning the ‘Cats were able to break it open.
The Bearcats scored three runs on five hits and an error in the bottom of the seventh, including a Logan Rycraft double to score Joseph Curtis. Scoring concluded after the seventh inning, as neither team manufactured much offense in the final three half-innings.
Bearcat centerfielder Garrett Fort said that forcing Washburn coach Harley Douglas to pull starting righty and reigning MIAA Pitcher of the Year Nick Silva with one out in the seventh inning was huge for his side.
“We’re trying to get to that starter the whole time, really battling through his curveball,” Fort said. “He was getting called for a strike up in the zone on most of our hitters, and we knew that. We finally got strikes in the zone we could handle. Silva is definitely a good arm, but once you get to a certain pitch limit those curveballs don’t have as much snap.
“Hietpas was 0-1 all day, he threw that first pitch for a strike a lot. When pitchers can get in a groove like that, you keep them off balance.”
The Bearcats and Ichabods are now tied at 3-4 in the conference. The series continues in Topeka, Kansas, Friday at 3 p.m. due to impending inclement weather.
Both teams will be ready for whatever the elements throw their way, Douglas said, but he felt it was unfair that his opponent was being denied an ever-important weekend at home.
In the MIAA, Douglas said, early season games are some of the most important of the year.
“I thought we got ourselves out a lot, but they threw strikes and did a good job of battling,” Douglas said. “In all honesty, Hietpas is a competitor and he outcompeted us today. We knew that Northwest competes, they’ve groomed that pitching staff exactly how they want them. Those next few days are going to be a dogfight for sure.
“They should be able to compete at home, and I like the venue here. It’s a good place to play, but obviously we want to get the games in.”
HENRY JANSSEN/DAILY FORUM
Bearcat catcher Alix Herrera sac flies to right-center in Thursday’s victory over Washburn. Herrera finished the game hitless.
HENRY JANSSEN/DAILY FORUM
The Northwest baseball team celebrates a victory on Thursday. Ozzie Adams (9) and Logan Rycraft (41), middle infielders, lead the charge, with Luke Hassman (36) and James Holler (25) close behind.
