Box ScoreTAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State baseball team earned a 12-3 victory over Emporia State in the series opener Friday afternoon at Rousey Field.
The RiverHawks improved to 13-6 on the year and 8-5 in the MIAA, while the Hornets dropped to 12-6 overall and 6-6 in the league.
Emporia State's potent offense loaded the bases in four separate innings but was unable to score a run in any of those frames. The Hornets also finished the game with 12 hits and 14 runners left on base. Despite the production, NSU's pitching was able to keep the visitors off the scoreboard while posting double-digit strikeouts (12) for the fifth time this season.
After getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, Northeastern State quickly took a 2-0 lead in the home half of the frame. Junior
Shane Bridges was hit by a pitch, and senior
Preston Cash singled to left field to put two aboard. Junior
Cody Begovich struck out for the second out of the inning, but junior
Eric Kirkpatrick roped a two-RBI double to left field before the final out was recorded.
Wade Hanna led off the top of the second with a double, and he put ESU on the board following a double down the left field line from Justin Harris. The visitors also loaded the bases in the third and the fourth but did not damage the scoreboard.
During that time, the RiverHawks were able to score nine runs to take a commanding 11-1 lead. Bridges led off the third with another hit-by-pitch, and Cash also reached base after being hit by a pitch. Begovich singled to load the bases, and sophomore
Bryce Davenport earned a full-count walk to bring home Bridges. Kirkpatrick drove home Cash on a sacrifice fly, then junior
Charles Sims hit a two-out double down the left field line to score Davenport and Begovich.
Bridges and Cash yet again found their way on base in the bottom of the fourth, and a Davenport single up the middle scored Bridges. After a pitching change, Kirkpatrick blasted the first pitch he saw over the left field wall for a grand slam to give the home team the 10-run lead.
Price Jacobs and Hanna led off the fifth with back-to-back solo home runs, but that would be the final runs of the day for the Hornets.
Sims completed the scoring in the home half of the seventh when he scored following a double from sophomore
Jared Aschbrenner.
Northeastern State outhit Emporia State 13-12, and all but one member of the RiverHawks' starting lineup registered at least one hit.
Kirkpatrick led the way with his 3-for-3, 7-RBI effort. The seven runs batted in tied three others for the most by any MIAA player this season. Begovich, Davenport and Sims also had two hits. Bridges and Cash both scored three times, and Davenport and Sims recorded two runs batted in.
Senior
Kyle Shambaugh (4-0) threw the first five innings to remain perfect on the season. He conceded three runs on 11 hits, while throwing 113 pitches. He struck out seven Hornets, which was the second-highest mark of his career and the most since April 9, 2013. Sophomore
Dustin Berrong threw the final four innings and picked up his first save. He did not allow a run and he only conceded one hit. He also struck out five and walked just two.
ESU starter Garrett Brummett (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season. He gave up six runs on five hits in 2.2 innings. He also struck out three and walked one. Jacob Tetuan lasted just the next 0.2 innings. He gave up four runs on just two hits. Jagger Harjo threw the next 4.2 innings, conceding just two runs on six hits while striking out five.
Hanna led Emporia State at the plate with a 4-for-5 day. He scored two of the team's runs. Levi Parker and Jacobs also had a pair of hits.
The nine-run loss is the worst of the season for the defending MIAA tournament champions and also just the second road defeat of the year.
The two teams will continue their series with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. March 21 from Rousey Field.
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