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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State softball team defeated took down both William Jewell College and Bacone College Sunday afternoon at RiverHawks Park.

NSU (5-3) run-ruled both William Jewell (1-2) 13-5 and Bacone (1-9) 10-2 in six innings.  

NSU 13 , William Jewell 5 (Box Score)
William Jewell posted four runs early to begin play against the RiverHawks. Northeastern State answered in the bottom of the first frame with a four-run inning of its own. Senior Lisa Ripperger tied the game with a two-run homer to left field to tie WJC 4-4. NSU chalked up two more runs in the bottom of the second inning to pull past WJC 6-4.The RiverHawks scored seven runs in the final three innings to run rule the Cardinals 13-5 in six innings.

Ripperger led Northeastern State with three hits, two runs, and three RBI. Junior's Amanda Harjo, Megan Robison and Allyson Pogue each notched two RBI, and Pogue led NSU with three hits.

Freshman Saharra Henson scored three times and drove home one.

Freshman Kayce Wooldridge (2-1) gained the win after entering into the game as relief for sophomore Shelby Enloe. Wooldridge pitched three innings, allowing two hits and one run. Enloe lasted 2.2 innings, while allowing four runs on four hits.

NSU 10 , Bacone 2 (Box Score)
Bacone was the first to score in the top of the second inning on a homerun to right center for a 1-0 lead. The RiverHawks held the Lady Warriors at one and came back in the home half of the inning to score three runs. Junior Navada Campos homered in the bottom of the fourth inning to bring in Robison and Harjo to end the fourth frame 6-1.

Bacone's Karina Watson homered in the fifth inning tabbing another run for Bacone, however Watson's homerun was the last scored run for the Lady Warriors. NSU rallied in the sixth inning when Campos homered to center field scoring Robison for an 8-2 lead. Senior Kelsi Hilderbrandt doubled down the left field line to bring in senior Laquieta Drew and Ripperger to secure the win for the RiverHawks 10-2 over Bacone in the sixth inning.

Campos led Northeastern State with two runs, two hits and five RBI. Hilderbrandt also added one run, two hits and three RBI.

Sophomore Alex Files (2-0) tabbed the win after allowing four hits, two runs and two earned runs from the circle. She pitched five innings and was relieved by senior Cayce Coleman in the sixth frame.

The RiverHawks will be on the road March 1-3 at the Midwestern State Tournament in Wichita Falls, Texas. NSU will face off against St. Mary's at 11 a.m. and Oklahoma Panhandle State a 1 p.m.

NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH CLAY DAVIS
On responding with a 4-0 weekend following a 1-3 start to the year…
“We were coming off a rough weekend in Durant where we were in every ball game. We just couldn't seem to find a way to win. We came out and played aggressive with our bats this weekend, and that was good to see.”

On the highlights from the perfect weekend…
“Lisa Ripperger had a great weekend. She was 5-for-5 yesterday and had another great performance today. She swung the bat extremely well. Navada Campos finally got it going in the last game with two home runs. Amanda Harjo had an unbelievable weekend. She is just a consistent player that always comes to work.”

On being able to string together four-straight wins…
“It's real encouraging for us, especially with our pitching staff. I thought our pitching staff did real well this weekend. Freshman Kayce Wooldridge had a shutout yesterday, and she came out and had a great relief performance today to earn the win against William Jewell. If we can get our young kids to throw as well as her and Alex Files did this weekend, that's going to bode well for us down the line.”

-GoRiverHawksGo.com-