Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State baseball team split an MIAA doubleheader with Central Missouri Thursday afternoon at Rousey Field.
 
The Mules (7-6, 4-2 MIAA), who were the preseason favorites to win the league, took the first game 3-1. The RiverHawks (4-7, 1-5 MIAA) won the second game 5-4 and earned their first conference victory after starting the season 0-5.
 
Senior outfielder Cody Robinson contributed to five of NSU's six runs on the day as he hit three home runs, including a three-run go-ahead blast in the fifth inning of the second game. Robinson hit four home runs against UCM a year ago and now has seven round-trippers in five career games against the Mules.
 
The two teams will meet at 2 p.m. Feb. 28 before concluding the series at noon March 1.
 
CENTRAL MISSOURI 3, NORTHEASTERN STATE 1 (box score)
Jake Heissler nearly went the distance on the mound for the Mules in the series opener. He pitched 6.2 innings and conceded just five hits and one run to improve to 3-1 on the season. He also struck out eight and did not allow a walk. Zach Davis relieved Heissler and recorded the final out for his second save of the season.
 
Central Missouri scored the first run of the game in the fourth inning when Tony Sandifer was driven home on a sacrifice fly by Tucker Cross.
 
Robinson tied the game with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the fourth, but UCM added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, and the RiverHawks did not respond.
 
The road team narrowly outhit NSU 6-5, and the home side committed two errors.
 
Junior Kyle Shambaugh tossed the first 4.2 frames and allowed one run on three hits in a no-decision effort. Freshman Bryce Davenport (0-1) threw 0.1 innings and took the loss after allowing the go-ahead run. Senior Addison Williams, junior Clay Debban and sophomore Dakota Daniels also saw time on the mound. Debban threw the final 1.1 innings and allowed one run on two hits.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE 5, CENTRAL MISSOURI 4 (box score)
The RiverHawks fell behind 3-0 in the first four innings, but Robinson's two home runs brought his team back for the one-run victory.
 
Central Missouri had a base runner cross home plate in the first, third and fourth innings, but Robinson led off the home half of the fourth with his second home run of the day.
 
After the Mules were unable to score in the top portion of the fifth, NSU manufactured a run and left two on base with two out for Robinson. He calmly blasted a 2-2 count over the left field wall to put Northeastern State on top 5-3. UCM had base runners in both the sixth and seventh innings, but the road team could not score more than one run.
 
Robinson finished 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored as NSU outhit the Mules 7-5. Freshman Bobby Sehgal (1-0) threw 3.0 innings of relief and earned the win on the mound. He allowed two runs on two hits, while striking out two and walking just one.
 
Junior Seth Hudson threw the final 1.1 innings and collected his third save of the year.
 
Brad Wilson paced Central Missouri with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate. Trevor Jones drove home two runs and Brad Jelinek scored twice.

 
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