UAFS struggled to get the big hit it needed to break open its season-opening game on Friday against Northwest Missouri State, but in the end, it turns out the Lions survived with it.

With the game tied with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, Lions right fielder Logan Allen was hit by a pitch from Bearcats closer Trevor Dudar, forcing in the game-winning run and giving the Lions a walkoff 3-2 win at Crowder Field.

UAFS (1-0) will play the Northwest Missouri State (0-1) at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the second game of the three-game series at Crowder Field. The series finale will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Live statistics and live stream will be available for each of the remaining games.

Bearcats reliever Ethan Griswold, who was the fourth of five Northwest Missouri State pitchers, got first baseman Kyle Love to pop up to shortstop to begin the final inning, but the senior reliever, who led the Bearcats with 14 saves last season and earned First Team All-MIAA honors, walked pinch hitter Daniel Demondesert to put the game-winning run on base.

Demondesert was replaced by Gavazzi, and it appeared he, like many of the UAFS base runners, would be left stranded when Griswold got second baseman Brooks Sunny to fly out to center field for the second out.

Lions left fielder Trevor Koontz, though, delivered his second single of the game, chasing Griswold and bringing Dudar out of the bullpen.
Pinch hitter Cooper Van Kooten tapped a single up the middle of Dudar to load the bases for Allen, who was Preseason First Team NCBWA All-South Central Region, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II South Central Region Preseason All-America and Preseason First Team All-Heartland Conference.

Dudar, who hit only two batters over 32 innings of relief work last spring, then hit Allen to force in Gavazzi to give the Lions the walk.

Griswold (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing one earned run on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts over three innings of relief. Bearcats starter Quintin Van Akeren allowed two runs – both earned – on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings. Reliever Jarret Cronin allowed allowed no runs or hits and struck out one in 2/3 innings, and reliever Gibson Brown allowed no runs on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts over 2/3 innings.

UAFS collected a combined 10 hits – all singles – off four of the five Northwest Missouri State pitchers, but the Lions left 17 runners on base – the third-most in school history during the NCAA Division II era – including 10 in scoring position.

Lions catcher Dylan Hurt was 2 for 4 with one RBI and Koontz was 2 for 4. They were the only Lions with multiple hits. Allen was 1 for 4 with two RBIs.
Northwest Missouri State collected a combined seven hits – only one extra-base hit – off a trio of UAFS pitchers, but the Bearcats left 11 runners on base, including six in scoring position. Center fielder Derek Hussey was 2 for 5, and first baseman Connor Quick was 1 for 4 with a double.

Lions reliever Cameron Highfill (1-0) earned the win, allowing no runs on one hit with three strikeouts over one inning of relief. Lions starter Javon Rigsby allowed one run – unearned – on two hits with three walks and eight strikeouts over six complete innings, while reliever Korbin Polly allowed one run – unearned – on four hits with one strikeout over two innings of relief.

UAFS committed five errors, some of which accounted for the Bearcats' two unearned runs.
 
UAFS 3, NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE 2
Northwest Missouri State       001      000      100      --          2          7          0
UAFS                                      000      200      001      --          3          10        5
Van Ackeren, Cronin (5), Brown (6), Griswold (6), Dudar (9) and Herrera; Rigsby, Polly (7), Highfill (9) and Hurt. W – Highfill, 1-0. L – Griswold, 0-1. HRs – None.