TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State baseball team opened the 2016 season with a decisive 19-8 victory over East Central Sunday afternoon at Rousey Field.
 
The RiverHawks started the Jake Hendrick era off with a bang, as they rattled off 20 hits to earn the 11-run triumph. NSU posted the most runs and hits in a season opener since the beginning of the team's NCAA era (1997). This was also the first time Northeastern State played a game in January in NSU's NCAA era.
 
Seniors Eric Kirkpatrick and Shane Bridges led the way with four hits each as they combined to go 8-for-11 at the plate, while adding five RBI and five runs scored. Bridges hit his first home run as a member of the RiverHawks, while senior Charles Sims also left the yard for the third time in his career. He posted three RBI and three runs scored.
 
Senior Cody Begovich finished 3-for-5 with four RBI, one run scored and one triple. Senior Justin Burgess and junior Dakota Woods also had multiple hits in the win.
 
Junior Tyler Yancey (1-0) tossed the first two innings and was credited with the victory on the declared staff day. He allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits, while striking out three and walking just one. Juniors Jeremy Mansur and Thomas Murray, senior Jake Kern and true freshman Zach Parish all saw time on the mound. Parish lasted 2.2 innings and only conceded one hit and no runs.
 
East Central was able to take a 4-0 lead after the top of the second, but NSU plated six runs in the home half of the frame and added six more in the bottom of the fourth to pull ahead by seven runs. The Tigers were able to chip into the lead bit by bit, but the RiverHawks scored at least two runs in each of their final three innings to secure the win.
 
Casey Kenney led ECU with three hits, and Riley Roberts (2-for-3) was the only other member of the visiting team with multiple hits.
 
NSU will remain at home for a doubleheader beginning at noon Feb. 6 against Southeastern Oklahoma State.
 
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