Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northeastern State softball team split a doubleheader with Northwest Missouri State Saturday afternoon at the Bearcat Softball Field.

The Bearcats (20-28, 13-13 MIAA) took game one 6-5, but the RiverHawks (26-28, 12-14 MIAA) earned a vital 14-13 nine-inning triumph in the series finale.

The last victory snapped an eight-game losing streak and proved to be a crucial win as NSU qualified for the 2014 MIAA Championship as the eighth and final seed. The RiverHawks will meet No. 1 seed Emporia State at 6 p.m. May 1 in Kansas City, Mo.

Northeastern State finished the regular season in a four-way tie with Lindenwood, Pittsburg State and Washburn. Due to tiebreaking procedures, the Lions were awarded the No. 7 seed and NSU picked up the last playoff berth.

NWMSU 6, NSU 5 (box score)
Northwest Missouri started off the home half of the first frame scoring three runs to lead Northeastern State 3-0.

Freshman Ryan Martin homered to left field to put NSU on the board, but the visiting team would trail NWMSU 3-1 in the top of the third frame.

Sophomore Saharra Henson followed up in the top of the fourth inning with a homer to center field to plate senior Allyson Pogue and even the score to 3-3. Pogue reached base on a walk.
Senior Megan Robison poked a double to left field to score junior Alyssa Aguilar in the top of the fifth frame to put the road side on top 4-3. Aguilar reached base on a walk.

The Bearcats added one run in the bottom of the fifth to tie up the game once more at 4-4.

The RiverHawks battled and pulled ahead by a single tally when senior Madison Reed reached base on an error by the second baseman to score freshman Randye Sharp. Sharp entered the game to pinch run for senior Navada Campos who reached base on a walk.

Northwest Missouri State tacked on one run in the bottom of the sixth inning to even the score to 5-5, and the Bearcats brought home a walkoff marker in the bottom of the seventh frame to earn the 6-5 triumph.

Leading NSU with two hits each were Aguilar and Martin, while Henson tabbed two RBI.

Sophomore Kayce Wooldridge (13-10) took the loss in the circle after throwing a complete game. She allowed 13 hits and six runs.

NSU 14, NWMSU 13 (box score)
The Bearcats opened up game two with four runs in the bottom of the first frame. Campos got NSU on the board with a single in the top of the second to plate Robison.

The visitors posted three runs in the top of the third inning to tie the game up 4-4. Aguilar scored freshman Lauren Flanary, while Boyd drove home both Aguilar and Reed.

The Bearcats came back in the bottom of the third and tacked on five runs to pull past NSU 9-4. Aguilar singled to center field in the top of the fourth inning and scored Reed to make the score 9-5.

Campos sent a home run to right field and plated Robison in the top of the fifth frame. Robison reached base on a double to right field. Aguilar reached base on an error by the shortstop to score Flanary and end the visiting half of the inning 9-8.

The RiverHawks tacked on another three runs in the top of the sixth inning. Pogue scored on a single from Henson. Campos homered to right field for the second time in the game to plate Henson and take the lead 11-9.

Northwest plated one run in the bottom of the sixth inning to trail behind NSU 11-10 and added an additional run in the bottom of the seventh frame to tie the game up at 11-11 and send it into extra innings.

The RiverHawks battled and scored three runs in the top of the ninth frame to take the lead 14-11.

The Bearcats added on two additional runs in the home half of the ninth inning but came up one run short as the RiverHawks picked up the 14-13 victory.

Aguilar led NSU with four hits and four RBI while Campos had three hits and five RBI. Robison added two hits and Boyd contributed two hits and three RBI.

Wooldridge (14-10) earne the win after throwing the final three frames of the contest. She allowed one hit and two runs. Senior Shelbie Wagnon started the game and threw the first two frames. She allowed five hits and seven runs with only one of them being earned. Senior Kylee Cole came on in relief and threw four innings. She allowed five hits and four earned runs.

-GoRiverHawksGo.com-