Maryville, Mo. -- The Northwest Missouri Bearcats scored five unanswered runs en route to a 9-4 victory over the Missouri Southern baseball team today in Maryville. 

The Lions (17-7, 10-6 MIAA) scored a single run in each of the second and third innings and picked up a pair of runs in the fifth, but Northwest (7-17, 6-10 MIAA) scored five over the final four innings to put away the game. 

Ethan Stenger started for the Lions and went four and two thirds of an inning, striking out three and walking just one. He allowed four earned runs. Grant Conrad and Ryan Taylor pitched the final three and a third innings in relief. 

The Bearcats scored three runs in the first inning, but Southern answered back with a run in each of the second and third on RBIs from Cullen Baxter and MJ Sartin. 

Northwest added another run in the third and the Lions would score two more in the fifth when Jesse Kinzey scored on a wild pitch and Tee Helsel singled home Thomas Wilson. 

Wilson went 2-4 in the game, while Baxter, Michael McCoy, Sartin, and Helsel had a hit each. Sam Ryan scored twice. 

The Lions will face off with Pittsburg State in a double-header on Tuesday afternoon. The games will be the first two of four in the Sonic Trophy Series between the two teams.