Game 1 Box Score  I  Game 2 Box Score

HAYS, Kan. – The Northeastern State baseball team captured both games of a doubleheader to take a 2-1 series lead over Fort Hays State Saturday afternoon at Larks Park.
 
The RiverHawks (16-10, 10-9 MIAA) outhit the Tigers (6-20, 5-14 MIAA) by a combined 25-8 margin and held FHSU to just two runs total in the two games after allowing 11 in the series opener Friday. NSU also hit two home runs in each game, which marked the first time this season the green and white went yard twice in one game.
 
Multiple RiverHawks had solid production at the plate, led by senior Preston Cash who was 5-for-7 overall with five runs batted in and three runs scored. Sophomore Bryce Davenport finished 4-for-6 in the two games with a run scored and four RBI. Junior Charles Sims was 4-for-7 and fellow junior Gabriel Wurth was 3-for-8. They both tallied four runs batted in and three runs scored.
 
Ryan Helsley (5-1) earned the victory on the mound in the first game, while sophomore Gabe Coldwell (2-0) threw the first complete game of the season for an NSU pitcher to pick up the win in the second game.
 
Northeastern State and Fort Hays State will close out the series with a single nine-inning game beginning at noon March 29.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE 8, FORT HAYS STATE 1
The RiverHawks quickly jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the first three innings of play. FHSU was able to scratch across a run in the fourth, but the home team would not score again.
 
The scoring began for NSU when Cash belted a two-run double down the left field line in the first inning. Sims capped a three-run second with a two-RBI single, plating Wurth and sophomore Jared Aschbrenner. Davenport hit his second home run of the season in the third inning, and he was quickly followed by senior Licio Tamburlini blasting his first home run wearing the green and white.
 
FHSU loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth and scored a run on an RBI walk by Andre Vieyra. The threat was quickly halted, however, as Caleb Cherryholmes hit into an inning-ending double play.
 
Helsley allowed just one run and one hit in 5.0 innings. He also struck out six and walked five. Senior Clay Debban threw the final 2.0 frames and only allowed two hits. He struck out a pair of Tigers and did not give up a run.
 
Cash finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Sims and Davenport also had two hits, and Tamburlini went 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored.
 
FHSU's three hits were scattered between Connor Ross, Alex King and Gus Strunk. Tyler Patty (1-3) suffered the loss after conceding seven runs on seven hits in the first 2.2 innings. Alex Cox threw the final 4.1 frames and gave up one run on three hits.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE 12, FORT HAYS STATE 1
NSU scored in each of the first six innings to complete the sweep. The team went ahead 1-0 after the first and then exploded for five runs in the second. The visitors tacked on two more runs in both the third and fourth innings before adding single tallies in the fifth and sixth.
 
A solo home run from Cooper Langley in the bottom of the sixth allowed Fort Hays State to avoid the shutout.
 
Coldwell needed just 88 pitches to throw his first complete game wearing the green and white. He gave up just one run, while scattering five hits. He also struck out one and walked three.
 
Six different RiverHawks had two hits each. Wurth had three RBI and a run scored, Sims had two RBI and two runs scored, and Davenport drove home three runs. Senior Tyler Wilkins finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
 
Chase Newman (1-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs (one earned) on seven hits in 2.0 innings. Trevor Rinne tossed 1.1 innings of relief and gave up four runs on four hits. Ty Thomas entered the game and allowed a run and three hits in 1.2 frames. Clayton Basgall finished the game and conceded one unearned run on one hit.
 
No Tiger hitter had more than one hit.
 
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