Drury Box Score (HTML)  I  Minnesota State-Mankato Box Score (HTML)

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Northeastern State softball team got their first victories of 2015 on the opening day of the 2015 8-State Classic at Memorial Park.

The RiverHawks (2-4) came from behind to defeat Drury (0-1) 5-4 before using a nine-run inning en route to a 13-8 victory over Minnesota State-Mankato (0-2).  

Senior catcher Alli Eales was 4-for-8 on the day, hitting two home runs and collecting six RBI. Freshman third baseman Brianna Trujillo was also 4-for-8. Sophomore shortstop Maddie Boyd and freshman outfielder Jessica Boone were 3-for-9 while freshman first baseman Paige Gann was 3-8. Junior second baseman Megan Ewton was 3-for-6. Gann and sophomore outfielder Ryan Martin also homered for the RiverHawks.

Northeastern State will remain in Bentonville and take on Northwestern Oklahoma State and Oklahoma Panhandle State beginning at 1 p.m. Feb. 14.

NORTHEASTERN STATE 5, DRURY 4
The RiverHawks came from behind to earn their first victory of the young 2015 season. Drury jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Kari Hillenburg hit a double and was able to score on a passed ball and error.

The RiverHawks tied the game up at 1-1 in the top of the second inning when Trujillo doubled to right field to score Martin.

The Panthers took the lead again in the bottom of the second inning. Drury scored three unearned runs to stretch their lead to 4-1.

The RiverHawks chipped away at the Panthers lead, plating three runs in the top of the fourth inning before tying the game at 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning.

NSU took the lead for the first time in the top of the seventh inning. Ewton got herself on base with a bunt single and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Boyd laced a single up the middle and Ewton easily scored. Junior pitcher Kayce Wooldridge was able to shut down the Panthers in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure the victory for the RiverHawks.

The RiverHawks collected 10 hits and had at least one baserunner in every inning, but left 14 runners stranded throughout the game. 

Wooldridge threw 7.0 innings and conceded four runs (0 earned) on six hits. She struck out five, including two in bottom of the seventh, and walked two.

NORTHEASTERN STATE 13, MINNESOTA STATE-MANKATO 8
The RiverHawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning with an RBI single by Ewton. NSU exploded for nine runs the following inning to extend their lead to 10-0. The RiverHawks hit three home runs in the third inning (Gann, Martin, Eales) and recorded seven of their 15 hits.

The Mavericks were able to plate four runs in the fourth inning, but NSU tacked on an additional run in the fifth with Eales' second home run of the game. The RiverHawks added two more insurance runs in the sixth inning.

Minnesota State-Mankato plated two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Junior Alex Files (1-1) got the victory for the RiverHawks. She allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits in 3.2 innings in the circle. Sophomore Krissy Crow pitched 1.2 innings in relief, allowing two unearned runs. Wooldridge pitched the final 1.2 innings, striking out two and conceding two runs (one earned) in 1.2 innings of work.

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