Box Score
Box Score

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Northeastern State baseball team completed a three-game series sweep by defeating Southwest Baptist 11-10 Saturday afternoon at Dodson Field.
 
The RiverHawks (9-7, 9-7 MIAA) collected their first series sweep of the year, while the Bearcats fell to 5-7 overall and 5-5 in the conference.
 
The two teams battled to a 10-10 draw through eight innings, and a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth from senior Trent Wilkins proved to be the difference in the contest.
 
Wilkins finished 5-for-5 from the plate with two runs batted in and four runs scored. Junior Cody Robinson continued his torrid pace to start the year, as he hit his 10th home run of the young campaign. He now has six round-trippers over his last five games.
 
Senior Greg Jackson drove home four runs and hit his first homer of the year. Junior Ryan Staggs finished 3-for-4 with two RBI.
 
The Bearcats plated two runs in the first to take the early advantage, but Jackson's three-run blast in the top of the second flipped the momentum in favor of the visitors.
 
Wilkins and sophomore Preston Cash scored in the fourth and Robinson's home run was part of a four-run fifth as Northeastern State pushed its lead to 9-2.
 
Southwest Baptist responded with a two-run homer from Ross Wolfe in the home half of the fifth, but senior Chad Davidson manufactured a run in the sixth to give NSU a 10-3 edge.
 
The Bearcats would not go down without a fight, however, as the home side scored four in the sixth and one each in the seventh and eighth to knot the game at 10-10.
 
Despite losing the momentum, Wilkins was able to lead off the top of the ninth with a solo homer that would prove to be the game winner. SBU was sat down in order to close out the contest.
 
Sophomore Hayden Walch (1-3) threw a scoreless eighth inning and picked up the win. Brother Trevor was the first on the mound, and he lasted 5.0 innings. He gave up four runs on seven hits, while striking out six and not issuing a walk.
 
Senior Frank Sprick earned his first save of the season.
 
Wolfe finished 5-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. SBU outhit NSU 17-15, and five members of the home side had two hits. Landon Young scored twice.
 
Dustin Caplette earned the start for the Bearcats, and he picked up a no-decision after allowing eight runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings of work. Jacob Sullinger (1-1) gave up the Wilkins home run and suffered the loss. He threw 2.1 frames.
 
Northeastern State will return home March 12 for a 1 p.m. doubleheader with Central Oklahoma.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH TRAVIS JANSSEN
On the keys to the weekend sweep…
“I thought the story of the weekend was our pitching. Coach Mike Nisco has done a good job of continuing to work with the pitchers, and emphasizing challenging the strike zone. We made a tremendous improvement in that area this weekend. Today was a tough day to pitch. There was a strong wind blowing out, yet our pitchers continued to throw strikes. By doing that our defense stayed engaged and we made Southwest Baptist earn all of their runs.  All three starters on the weekend gave us quality starts.”
 
On some of the key players…
“The other thing that stuck out was that this weekend was truly a team effort. Greg Jackson and Ryan Staggs both played really well. Neither one of those guys has been a true everyday guy, and they both did an outstanding job on the weekend. Trent Wilkins had a big day today, finishing with five hits, two doubles and the game-winning home run in the top of the ninth. Another guy that stood out was Preston Cash. He has been very solid defensively for us all year and this weekend he did a nice job with the bat in all three games. I was proud of how we bounced back this weekend after a tough series last weekend. We need to continue to improve, continue to get better, and continue to keep a good attitude collectively.”
 
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