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Northwest Missouri State heads into its second weekend of action still seeking its first win after getting swept in a season opening four-game set at Central Oklahoma.
The Bearcats (0-4) had chances to gain at least a split in the series, but lost three games by two runs or less.
Ahead in all four games, Northwest blew three separate leads in game one and failed to record the final out twice. Central Oklahoma hit a game-winning solo shot in the 12th inning that also came with two outs.
In game four, the Bearcats stranded the bases loaded with nobody out in the eighth inning with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. They went on to lose 9-8.
"We had it in game one," said Northwest Missouri State head baseball coach Darin Loe. "The unfortunate part about playing on the road is they got the last at-bat. It was very typical of early season baseball. We just made too many defensive mistakes. We didn't get that big RBI hit. That's one of the things we hope to improve on this weekend."
Northwest committed nine errors in the series, including two or more in three of the four games.
The Bearcats were working in five new starters, with Jon Pomatto in right, Eric Swain at short, Ryan Abernathy in center, Steven Garber at first and Travis Green behind the plate.
Cameron Bedard, who started at short last year, started three of the four games at second base.
He went 6-11 in the series, and the Bearcats revamped lineup hit a respectable. 277 as a team with two 12-hit games.
"I thought we hit the ball pretty well all weekend," said Loe. "That's the best we've hit this early. We just didn't get that big RBI hit."
The most positive development of the weekend was the start turned in by fifth-year senior Chris Green in game one of the series.
Coming off Tommy John surgery, Green tossed five innings of shutout baseball, allowing only three hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Green would've gone back out for the sixth, but Loe wanted to aire on the side of caution.
"He really put us in good shape," said Loe. "He gave us confidence. Any time you get good quality pitching it gives your team confidence. Unfortunately, coming off an arm injury, he had a limited pitch count. We thought we needed to pull him after five innings. He could've gone more. We're not going to risk that on the opening weekend."
Northwest Missouri State heads into its second weekend of action still seeking its first win after getting swept in a season opening four-game set at Central Oklahoma.
The Bearcats (0-4) had chances to gain at least a split in the series, but lost three games by two runs or less.
Ahead in all four games, Northwest blew three separate leads in game one and failed to record the final out twice. Central Oklahoma hit a game-winning solo shot in the 12th inning that also came with two outs.
In game four, the Bearcats stranded the bases loaded with nobody out in the eighth inning with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. They went on to lose 9-8.
"We had it in game one," said Northwest Missouri State head baseball coach Darin Loe. "The unfortunate part about playing on the road is they got the last at-bat. It was very typical of early season baseball. We just made too many defensive mistakes. We didn't get that big RBI hit. That's one of the things we hope to improve on this weekend."
Northwest committed nine errors in the series, including two or more in three of the four games.
The Bearcats were working in five new starters, with Jon Pomatto in right, Eric Swain at short, Ryan Abernathy in center, Steven Garber at first and Travis Green behind the plate.
Cameron Bedard, who started at short last year, started three of the four games at second base.
He went 6-11 in the series, and the Bearcats revamped lineup hit a respectable. 277 as a team with two 12-hit games.
"I thought we hit the ball pretty well all weekend," said Loe. "That's the best we've hit this early. We just didn't get that big RBI hit."
The most positive development of the weekend was the start turned in by fifth-year senior Chris Green in game one of the series.
Coming off Tommy John surgery, Green tossed five innings of shutout baseball, allowing only three hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Green would've gone back out for the sixth, but Loe wanted to aire on the side of caution.
"He really put us in good shape," said Loe. "He gave us confidence. Any time you get good quality pitching it gives your team confidence. Unfortunately, coming off an arm injury, he had a limited pitch count. We thought we needed to pull him after five innings. He could've gone more. We're not going to risk that on the opening weekend."
After Green, Northwest's starting pitching wasn't nearly as effective.
Game two starter Sean Brady lasted just 3 1/3 innings, giving up eight hits and five earned runs. Game three starter Jace Anderson went 5 1/3 innings and gave up seven hits and three runs.
In game four, Chase Anderson was tagged for five runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Anderson's start was the longest of the series, causing Northwest's bullpen to log close to half the innings.
The bullpen was a sore spot in the first two games, giving up 11 runs with two blown saves.
Over the last two, it sparkled with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief.
"We found some depth in our pitching staff," said Loe. "It means we can get the job done at the end of games with a few more guys and not just one guy."
The Bearcats return to Oklahoma this weekend to play two games against Northeastern State and two against Arkansas Tech in Tahlequah.
Green will take the ball today at 11 a.m. against Northeastern State, looking to halt Northwest's skid at four.
"You got to get that one under your belt," said Loe. "I think if we could get that one win, the pressure would be off. The monkey would be off our back so to speak. I think we'll roll from there. It comes down to getting another great pitching performance, clean up our defense. Hitting is contagious, so I think if we can two or three hard-hit balls in RBI situations, I think those hitters breath a sigh of relief and roll from there."
