Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State baseball team split the first two games of the series with Nebraska Kearney Saturday afternoon at Thomas C. Rousey Field.
 
The Lopers (20-21, 17-18 MIAA) won the opening game 8-5, while the RiverHawks (24-19, 22-18 MIAA) secured the second game 12-11.
 
The day began with the honoring of NSU's 10 seniors, who are playing their final games Rousey Field.
 
The two squads will meet for the rubber match at noon April 21. This will also be the last home game of the season for Northeastern State.
 
UNK 8, NSU 5 (box score)
Nebraska Kearney scored all eight of its runs before the RiverHawks responded. UNK plated three in the first and added runs in four of the next five frames. Northeastern State scored five in the home half of the sixth, but the comeback would inevitably fall short.
 
Senior Jordan Dallalio was 2-for-4 with a home run. He drove in three runs and scored once. Senior Kegan Knight and junior Cody Robinson also had two hits, while sophomore Preston Cash hit a solo home run back-to-back with Dallalio.
 
Sophomore Kyle Shambaugh (3-2) was tagged with the loss on the mound after allowing seven runs on 10 hits in 5.0 innings. Senior Trevor Walch and freshman Wilson Klutts also pitched an inning apiece.
 
NSU was outhit 13-11.
 
NSU 12, UNK 11 (box score)
Northeastern State was again outhit 13-11, but the home side was able to take advantage of five UNK errors to record the victory.
 
The Lopers led 7-2 after four and a half innings, but NSU outscored the visitors 10-1 over the course of the next three frames to lead 12-8 heading into the eighth. UNK tacked on three in the top of the eighth, but the team would not be able to add the 12th run.
 
Knight finished the game 4-for-5 at the plate. He drove home three and scored once. Robinson recorded his nation's leading 16th home run of the season, and sophomore David Weber posted two hits, two runs and two RBI. Junior Ryan Staggs did not register a hit, but he did score three times.
 
Senior Craig George (6-3) earned the win on the mound after allowing eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits in 7.0 innings. Fellow senior Trevor Walch tossed the final two frames and picked up his seventh save of the year. The duo combined for nine strikeouts.
 
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