MARYVILLE, Mo. - It was a 7-6 contest through five innings, but eight unanswered runs helped Northwest Missouri hand the Lincoln baseball team a 15-6 loss on Sunday (March 20).

Northwest Missouri scored a pair of runs in each of the first and second frames, but Lincoln answered in a big way in the top of the third. LU opened the inning with singles from Jeffery Jackson and Dillion Walker before Kaleb Davis got the Blue Tigers on the board with a base hit that plated Jackson. A fielder's choice that did not produce an out led to Mike Million loading the bases, and Alex Ludwick hit a bases-clearing double to tie the game at 4-4.

The Bearcats retook the lead on an RBI single in the bottom half of the frame, but Lincoln tied the game at five in the fourth on a base hit from Dillon Walker. Jackson Walker scored on the play after reaching on a single and taking third on a double from Jackson.

A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth once again gave Northwest Missouri (13-9, 8-4 MIAA) a one-run lead, but Lincoln (1-21, 0-12 MIAA) once again had an answer. In the top of the fifth, Ludwick was issued a walk and Mason Price reached after being beaned by a pitch. A base hit from Kolton Clark loaded the bags, and Jackson Walker reached base on balls to bring in Ludwick, tying the contest at five.

Northwest Missouri responded with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, making it a 7-6 game. Dillon Walker led the next frame off with a single, but a double play kept LU off the board. The Bearcats took advantage, plating three runs in both the sixth and eighth frames as well as two in the seventh while keeping the Lincoln bats at bay.

The Blue Tigers finished with 11 hits, including three each by Jackson and Dillon Walker. Davis had two hits and led LU with five putouts while Price, Jackson and Jackson Walker finished with four putouts apiece. Dillon Walker and Zach Moore both recorded two assists. On the mound, Moore had two strikeouts while Daniel Castillo and Caleb Thomas each had one.

Lincoln remains on the road for another MIAA game on Tuesday (March 22), as the Blue Tigers play a 3:00 p.m. CDT game in Bolivar, Mo. against Southwest Baptist.