Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State baseball team defeated Lindenwood University twice Monday afternoon at Rousey Field to pick up a series victory.
 
The RiverHawks (8-9, 5-7 MIAA) won the first game 19-10 and took the series finale 9-7 over the Lions (4-12, 2-6 MIAA). NSU won the series 3-1 with the help of seven home runs and two grand slams. The two teams split a doubleheader Sunday.
 
The two grand slams came in back-to-back innings and were both hit by junior Cayle Shambaugh. Seniors Cody Robinson and Kyle Singleton homered in both games, and junior Justin Burgess hit the winning blast in the second game.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE 19, LINDENWOOD 10 (box score)
The two teams exchanged runs in the first inning, and then the RiverHawks went to work. Junior Tyler Wilkins, Burgess and sophomore Andrew Walker all found their way on the base path in the second inning, and Shambaugh sent a 3-2 pitch screaming to straightaway center and over the wall.
 
Singleton led off the third with a home run to center field, and Burgess later joined seniors Ryan Staggs and Mitch Stevenson to again load the bases for Shambaugh. He took the first pitch he saw and sent a laser down the right field line for his second grand slam of the day.
 
NSU's 11-1 lead would start to evaporate, however, as the Lions scored four in the fourth and five in the fifth to cut the advantage down to 11-10. The damage in those two frames could have been much worse, as Lindenwood left four runners stranded.
 
The RiverHawks would leave no doubt in the first game, as the home team plated eight more runs in the sixth inning to secure the 19-10 victory. Robinson led off the frame with a solo home run, and he later registered an RBI double. He scored twice in the sixth.
 
The eight runs in the sixth alone were more than NSU has scored in an entire game this season. The last time Northeastern State plated 19 runs in a game was on March 10, 2012, against Clarke University (19-13 victory).
 
Shambaugh finished 3-for-4 with eight runs batted in and three runs scored. Singleton was 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, and Robinson had two hits, two runs scored and two runs batted in. Burgess was also 3-for-3 at the plate. Both Burgess and Wilkins scored three times.
 
Junior Waylon Davis (1-2) allowed six runs (four earned) on nine hits in 4.0 innings. He struck out four and walked three, doing just enough to secure his first win as a member of the RiverHawks. Junior Bryan McClellan earned his first save after not allowing a run in the final 2.0 innings. He struck out three and only allowed two hits.
 
Mike Failoni paced Lindenwood with a 3-for-4 effort. He also drove home three. Jerry Roam, Nick Kolley and Marshall Vallandingham all had two hits, and Vallandingham finished with two RBI and two runs scored.
 
Brenden Kleekamp (1-2) took the loss after conceding 11 runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings. The Lions used three relievers, and they combined to allow eight runs on 10 hits across the final 3.2 frames.
 
NSU outhit Lindenwood 18-13, and both teams committed just one error.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE 9, LINDENWOOD 7 (box score)
There were four lead changes in the series finale, but a decisive home run from Burgess in the eighth put NSU on top for good.
 
A home run by Robinson gave Northeastern State the early 1-0 lead after one inning, but Ryan Light scored in the top of the second on a double from Vallandingham to tie the score. Wade Rothermich and Roam both scored in the third, and Light scored again in the fourth to put the visitors ahead 4-1.
 
Robinson scored on a Singleton double in the home half of the fourth, and junior Braden Brown cut the deficit to 4-3 when he scored on a sac bunt from Walker.
 
The Lions added a fifth run in the sixth, but a two-run homer from Singleton and another run from Stevenson gave the RiverHawks a 6-5 lead. Singleton's home run went well over the scoreboard in right field.
 
Lindenwood came right back and used a solo shot from Rothermich and another run from Roam to take a 7-6 lead, but NSU would strike again in the eighth and take the lead for good. An error by the second baseman that would've ended the inning plated Singleton, and Burgess hit a two-run homer that gave Northeastern State the final 9-7 advantage.
 
Singleton and Burgess both went 3-for-4 and drove home three runs. Robinson was 2-for-4 with one RBI and three runs scored.
 
McClellan (2-1) came on in relief and picked up the win. He threw 2.2 innings and only allowed one hit. He struck out four and did not concede a walk or a run. Juniors Hayden Walch and Clay Debban tossed the first 6.1 frames and combined to allow seven runs (five earned) on six hits.
 
Rothermich led LWU with a 3-for-5 effort. He also threw the first 5.2 innings and took a no decision after allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits. Geoff Hartlieb (0-2) was saddled with the loss after conceding three unearned runs in the final 2.1 frames.
 
Light finished 0-for-2 at the plate, but he scored three runs.
 
Northeastern State will stay at home and compete against Rogers State in a non-conference tilt at 2 p.m. March 11.
 
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