Game 1 Box Score  I  Game 2 Box Score

FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Northeastern State baseball team took one of two games from Arkansas-Fort Smith Tuesday night at Crowder Field.
 
The RiverHawks (19-14) won the first game 3-2, and the Lions (20-12) earned a 7-6 victory in the nightcap.
 
NSU will now head to Jefferson City, Missouri, for a four-game MIAA series with Lincoln University. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. April 10.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE 3, ARKANSAS-FORT SMITH 2
NSU was able to take a 3-0 lead and hold off a late charge from the home team to win the first seven-inning contest. Senior Jorge Ozuna belted a one-out double in the top of the second and would later score on a sacrifice fly from junior Gabriel Wurth.
 
NSU's two-run fifth began when sophomore Jared Aschbrenner led off the frame with a walk. Junior Charles Sims singled to left field and Aschbrenner later scored on an infield single from senior Preston Cash. Sophomore Bryce Davenport plated Sims on a sacrifice fly to give the visitors the three-run cushion.
 
UAFS got two back in the home half of the frame, but the RiverHawks shut down the Lion offense the rest of the way to pick up the victory.
 
Northeastern State outhit Arkansas-Fort Smith 6-5, and four of those hits were chopped up between Sims and Cash. Justin Shealy (2-for-3) was the only Lion with more than one hit.
 
Sophomore Bobby Sehgal (3-3) earned his first win in exactly one month (March 7 against Southwest Baptist) after conceding two runs (one earned) on just three hits across the first 4.1 frames. Sophomore Dustin Berrong did not allow a runner to cross home over the next 1.2 innings, and junior Jake Kern pitched the seventh to earn his MIAA-leading ninth save of the season. He now stands one save shy of tying NSU's NCAA-era record (since 1996) for most saves in a single season, which is currently held by Trevor Walch (10 in 2013).
 
Luke Jones (0-1) logged the first 4.0 innings for UAFS and was tagged with the loss after allowing two runs on four hits. Matt Turner threw the final 3.0 frames and only gave up one unearned run on a pair of hits.
 
ARKANSAS-FORT SMITH 7, NORTHEASTERN STATE 6
The RiverHawks were on the brink of collecting a sweep over the Lions until a six-run fourth from the home side powered them past NSU. Sophomore Zack Hammock only allowed one unearned run on just one hit in the first 3.0 innings, and he exited with a 5-1 lead.
 
Sophomore Zach Poehl (0-1) then entered the game and gave up six runs on four hits in 1.0 inning of work. He threw five wild pitches and walked four batters in his lone frame as UAFS was able to take a 7-5 lead. Seniors Clay Debban and Hayden Walch were able to calm down the Lion bats in the final two innings, but the RiverHawks were unable to get back in the game.
 
Sophomore Caleb Hill and true freshman Derek Shedden both had two hits. Shedden and junior Shane Bridges had two RBI each, and senior Tyler Wilkins scored twice.
 
Both teams had six hits, and no UAFS batter had more than one hit. Ozzie Hurt went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
 
Hasten Freeman threw the first 3.0 innings and allowed two runson two hits. Devin Hampton did not record an out but gave up three runs on two hits. Kellen Smith (3-1) then came on and threw the final 4.0 frames, allowing just one unearned run on two hits.
 
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