Box Score 1  I  Box Score 2

HAYS, Kan. – The Northeastern State softball team split a doubleheader with Fort Hays State University Friday afternoon at Tiger Stadium.

The RiverHawks (13-17, 5-7 MIAA) defeated Fort Hays State (16-13, 9-5 MIAA) 5-4 in eight innings before falling 13-4 in six innings in game two. This was the first split for NSU this season.  

Freshman Jessica Boone led the way for the RiverHawks. The centerfielder was 4-for-8. Senior Alli Eales (3-for-6) and sophomore Ryan Martin (3-for-7) both finished with three hits on the day. Freshman Paige Gann (2-for-7), senior Alyssa Aguilar (2-for-7) and freshman Kaleigh Hinkle (2-for-6) recorded two hits.

Northeastern State will next travel to Kearney, Nebraska, to take on the University of Nebraska-Kearney in an MIAA conference doubleheader. The first game is set to begin at noon March 28.

NORTHEASTERN STATE 5, FORT HAYS STATE 4 (8 INNINGS)
The RiverHawks and Tigers remained scoreless through the first four innings.

The Tigers were able to take the lead in the fifth inning 1-0 on a Courtney Dobson RBI single.

NSU responded in the sixth inning as the team connected five hits to score four runs.

The RiverHawks were one out away from victory, but FHSU battled back to tie the game at 4 runs each at the end of seven innings.

Gann hit a line drive home run to left field in the top of the eighth inning to give the green and white a 5-4 lead. Junior Kayce Wooldridge and the NSU defense held the Tigers in the bottom of the inning and the RiverHawks earned the extra inning win.

Wooldridge (7-6) threw 8.0 innings and conceded four runs (three earned) on 10 hits. She struck out one and walked two.

Fort Hays State pitcher Paxton Duran came into the game leading the league in strikeouts (97 in 82.2 innings pitched). She only struck out four RiverHawks, which was the second lowest total in a game this year for Duran.

This was only the second extra-inning game for NSU this year. The RiverHawks lost 7-6 in eight innings to Tarleton State in the first game of the season.

FORT HAYS STATE 13, NORTHEASTERN STATE 4 (6 INNINGS)
Northeastern State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a three-run home run by Aguilar.

The Tigers responded in the bottom of the first inning, scoring four runs of their own to take a 4-3 lead.

NSU pushed across another run in the second inning to tie the game 4-4 when Boone hit an RBI single through the left side to score Hinkle.

The score remained the same until the fourth inning when FHSU brought around five runs, including three on a home run by Amanda Vaupel. The Tigers added four runs in the sixth inning to extend the score to 13-4 and end the game with the run rule.

Senior Laura Fleck started the game in the circle for the RiverHawks. She allowed four runs on eight hits in 2.0 innings. Sophomore Krissy Crow (1-3) took the loss after giving up four runs on three hits in 1.1 innings pitched. Junior Alex Files threw the final 1.2 innings. She conceded five runs (four earned) on nine hits.  
 
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