FORT SMITH, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Baseball nearly rallied from an eight-run deficit in the final game of the series against Northwest Missouri State, but the Bearcats came away with the doubleheader sweep Friday at Crowder Field.

The Bearcats took the opener, 20-8, in seven innings before taking the nightcap, 11-10.

UAFS is back at home Tuesday at 1 p.m. against Rogers State.

Northwest Missouri 20, UAFS 8

Outfielder JJ Young hit two of four home runs for the Lions in the opening game of the doubleheader.

After the Bearcats scored six runs in the top half of the first, the Lions answered with a leadoff home run from utility Connor Earleywine followed by a two-run homer by Young.

Northwest recorded single tallies in the second and third before back-to-back doubles for the Lions plated a run followed by another two-run blast by Young to pull the Lions within 8-6. The Lions cut the deficit to one in the fourth on a solo homer by infielder Caleb Eisenhower.

However, the Bearcats broke the game open with nine runs in the sixth and added two more in the seventh. The Lions scored their final run in the sixth on a Bearcat error.

Eisenhower and infielder Quinton Borders each had three hits in game one as the top four in the lineup all scored two runs each. Young and Earleywine each finished with two hits apiece.

Steffan Fak led the effort on the mound with 4.1 innings in relief.

Northwest Missouri 11, UAFS 10

The Lions trailed 11-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh and nearly pulled off the comeback victory.

UAFS scored three times in the seventh, with two runs on a passed ball and wild pitch and the other on a sacrifice fly by outfielder CJ Snowden.

In the eighth, Borders followed two walks with an RBI double to left center before the Lions added a second run on a Bearcat error. Snowden and pinch hitter Nick Mazzola each added sac flies to pull the Lions within a run.

Reliever Jett Frazier worked around a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth to keep the Lions within striking distance, as they loaded the bases in the bottom half with no outs. However, the bases were left loaded as the next three batters were retired via strikeout.

Northwest had jumped out to a 6-0 lead before Young put the Lions on the board with an RBI single in the third. The Lions then had single tallies in the fifth on an RBI single by Borders and an RBI triple by infielder Layne Sweat in the sixth.

Eisenhower added four more hits in game two with three runs scored while Borders was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Earleywine scored twice, as well.

Colby Morrow also tossed 1.1 scoreless frames out of the bullpen.