Box Score 1  I  Box Score 2

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State softball team split a doubleheader with the University of Central Missouri Friday afternoon at RiverHawks Park.

The RiverHawks (17-23, 7-11 MIAA) lost to Central Missouri (29-11, 11-3 MIAA) 3-1 before winning 5-4 in game two.

Sophomore Madison Boyd was 3-for-6 on the day while redshirt freshman Paige Gann (2-for-7) and freshman Bailey Applegate (2-for-5) both hit home runs. Freshman Jessica Boone, senior Alli Eales, senior Alyssa Aguilar, freshman Kaleigh Hinkle and junior Megan Ewton all recorded a hit.

Northeastern State will next host Southwest Baptist University in an MIAA conference doubleheader. The first game is set to begin at noon April 11 at RiverHawks Park. The games will also serve as senior day, with Laura Fleck, Alli Eales, Alyssa
Aguilar and Talia Lattimore being honored between the games.

CENTRAL MISSOURI 3, NORTHEASTERN STATE 1
The first game proved to be a pitcher's duel, with NSU's Kayce Wooldridge and UCM's Katie Schockley only allowing five hits between the two of them through the fifth inning.

The Jennies took a 3-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning when Lauren Mabe hit a two-run home run and Carlie Rose hit an RBI single.

The RiverHawks got one run back in the bottom of the seventh inning on a solo home run by Applegate to close the final score to 3-1.

Wooldridge (9-9) took the complete game loss, conceding three runs on seven hits. The junior struck out six while walking one.

NORTHEASTERN STATE 5, CENTRAL MISSOURI 4
Central Missouri jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the RiverHawks got one run back in the bottom of the inning after Boyd doubled to left center field and Gann singled her home.

The green and white tied things up at 2-2 in the second inning on an RBI ground out by Boone.

The Jennies retook the lead in the third inning when Jakki Prater hit a two-run home run after Lindsey Dawson was walked.  

The RiverHawks chipped away, scoring one run in the bottom of the third inning on a leadoff home run by Gann, her 10th of the year. They then tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth inning when Boyd hit an RBI double to left field.

NSU took the lead for good in the fifth inning when Hinkle laid down a bunt single between the pitcher and third baseman that allowed Ryan Martin to score from third.

The RiverHawks defense held the Jennies scoreless in the final four innings to earn the win, snapping a nine-game home losing streak and securing the first home conference victory of the season.

Senior Laura Fleck (4-3) earned the complete game victory for the RiverHawks. She allowed four runs on six hits. She recorded four strikeouts and walked two.  

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