Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State baseball team picked up two thrilling victories over Washburn Saturday afternoon at Rousey Field.
 
The RiverHawks (24-26, 20-20 MIAA) used a game-ending double play to take the first contest 6-5 and then came from 14 runs down to steal the series finale 23-22. NSU needed the victories to snatch the eighth and final spot in the MIAA Championship tournament. The team will travel to Warrensburg, Mo., to meet top seed Central Missouri in a best-of-3 opening-round series May 1-3. The first team that wins twice will advance to the semifinals in Springfield, Mo.
 
The Ichabods (25-22, 22-18 MIAA) will be the No. 7 seed in the tournament.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE 6, WASHBURN 5 (box score)
The visitors put runs on the board in each of the first two frames to take an early advantage, but Northeastern State cut the lead in half in the third when a single from freshman Bryce Davenport plated junior Dante Broome.
 
Broome then singled in two runs in the fourth to put NSU on top 3-2, and senior Kyle Singleton hit a solo homer in the fifth to add an insurance run. The Ichabods used a three-run homer from Connor Crimmins to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the sixth, but sophomore Cody Begovich roped a two-RBI single to left center in the home half of the frame to swing the advantage back in favor of the RiverHawks.
 
Washburn was able to load the bases with just one out in the seventh, but Kyle Carnahan hit into a game-ending double play to ensure NSU would qualify for postseason competition for the second-straight year.
 
The RiverHawks outhit WU 11-9 and was aided by a 3-for-3 effort from Broome. He drove home two and scored twice. Davenport also finished 2-for-4 and junior Justin Burgess scored twice.
 
Wes Jones and Riley Krane powered the Ichabod offense as both finished 2-for-2. Crimmins led with four RBI.
 
Junior Bryan McClellan (5-5) pitched the sixth inning and collected the win after allowing three runs on two hits. Freshman Zack Hammock tossed the seventh and earned the first save of his career by not allowing any runs. Junior Kyle Shambaugh threw the first 5.0 frames and was credited with a no-decision after allowing two runs on six hits.
 
Mark Biesma (3-4) struck out 10 RiverHawks but was saddled with the loss after conceding six runs on 11 hits in 5.1 innings. Hank Wellborn recorded the final two outs in relief.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE 23, WASHBURN 22 (box score)
The series finale appeared to be déjà vu to Friday's contests, when NSU won the first game and the Ichabods blew out the RiverHawks 18-4 in the second.
 
Washburn plated a whopping 14 runs in the top of the fourth (the first 10 with no outs) to take a commanding 17-3 lead, but this time around the home side was able to respond with 13 runs in the bottom of the sixth (also the first 10 with no outs) to cut the lead down to just 17-16.
 
A five-run seventh gave Northeastern State an almost unthinkable 21-17 edge on 18 unanswered runs, but the Ichabods would stay strong at the plate and quickly regain the lead. A two-run eighth coupled with a three-run ninth put the visitors back on top 22-21 with just one half-inning remaining.
 
Senior Cody Robinson stepped up to the plate to lead off the final frame and blasted his second home run of the game (and 16th of the season) to tie the game at 22-22. Junior Tyler Wilkins later walked and advanced to third on a single from senior Ryan Staggs. He then scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly from Burgess to complete the comeback and give NSU three wins over WU on the weekend.
 
Robinson, Singleton, senior David Weber, and sophomore Andrew Walker all finished with four hits as the home side outhit Washburn 23-19. Both teams committed four errors.
 
Robinson (2) and Singleton each hit homers, while Singleton drove home five and Robinson posted four RBI and four runs scored. Weber also scored four times, and junior Preston Cash scored three times despite not registering a hit. Burgess was 1-for-1 with three RBI.
 
Parker Gibson, Jones and Crimmins all finished with three hits for Washburn. Gipson, Taylor Herrington and Carnahan all drove home four, while Jones scored four times.
 
NSU used seven pitchers total, and freshman Bobby Sehgal (2-2) earned the win after throwing the final 0.2 innings. Junior Cayle Shambaugh started and allowed eight runs on six hits in 3.0 innings.
 
Drew Ridley (1-1) was saddled with the loss for the Ichabods after allowing the game-winning run. He threw 2.0 innings and conceded two runs on five hits. Eric Schmid started and lasted 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits.
 
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