JOPLIN, Mo. – The Northeastern State softball team swept Missouri S&T in a pair of neutral-site contests Friday afternoon at Lea Kungle Field.
 
The RiverHawks (7-3) earned a 4-0 shutout in the first game before taking down the Lady Miners (0-6) 11-4 in the second game. The clean sheet was the first of the season for NSU and the 11 runs in the second outing was a season high.
 
Leading the way for Northeastern State at the plate was senior Megan Ewton, who finished 4-for-7 overall. Sophomore Jessica Boone, redshirt freshman Haley Acrey and true freshman Kelsey Harmon all had three hits on the day.
 
NSU is now set to play host to the 4th Annual NSU Softball Festival Feb. 20-22. The RiverHawks will welcome six other teams to both RiverHawks Park and the THS Softball Field for 15 total games, which will be the most played in the four-year history of the event.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE 4, MISSOURI S&T 0
The RiverHawks used a pair of Lady Miner errors to pull ahead early, and senior Kayce Wooldridge took control in the circle to give NSU the opening victory.
 
Boone led off the game with a walk and, after stealing second following two outs, scored when Savannah Fedorchak registered a throwing error on a hit by sophomore Paige Gann.
 
Northeastern State added two more runs in the bottom of the second when Harmon laced a single up the middle to plate senior Ryan Martin and true freshman Jordan Woosley. Woosley reached base on a single up the middle and Martin later got on by way of a throwing error.
 
The RiverHawks added an insurance tally in the sixth when a Boone single to center field brought home Harmon. Both Boone and Harmon finished 2-for-3 in the game with three combined RBI and two runs scored.
 
NSU was able to outhit Missouri S&T 8-6.
 
Kelly Heckemeyer was the lone Lady Miner with multiple hits, as she finished 2-for-3. Kati Viets (0-3) threw a complete games and took the loss. She conceded four runs (two earned) on eight hits, while striking out two and walking two.
 
Wooldridge (4-1) earned her first shutout of the season and the ninth of her career. She threw all 7.0 innings and conceded just six hits and no runs. She also was one strikeout shy of her career high after she finished with seven, while walking just one.
 
NSU stole six bases in the contest, which was the highest total since the team swiped eight bags against Washburn on April 11, 2014. Boone finished with three stolen bases. The Washburn game was also the last time a member of the RiverHawks swiped three bags in the same game (Madison Reed).
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE 11, MISSOURI S&T 4
Northeastern State fell behind 3-1 after the first four innings, but the green and white exploded for 10 runs in the final three frames to secure the sweep over Missouri S&T.
 
Ewton finished 3-for-4 with one run batted in and three runs scored. Acrey was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs, while junior Madison Boyd posted a 2-for-5 day with two runs scored. Martin and sophomore Bailey Applegate both had one hit and two RBI.
 
True freshman pitcher Taryn Gray (2-1) threw the first 4.0 innings in the circle to earn the victory. She allowed three runs on six hits. Junior Jennifer Wolf closed out the final three frames to pick up her first save of the year. She allowed one unearned run on just four hits.
 
Courtney Jackson (0-2) lasted 4.1 innings for the Lady Miners and took the loss. She conceded four runs on four hits, while walking five and striking out just two. Ashley Hill threw the next 2.1 frames and gave up seven runs on eight hits.
 
Heckemeyer was 3-for-4 to lead the Lady Miners. Andi Davis was 2-for-4.
 
Northeastern State outhit Missouri S&T 12-10.
 
NSU added another four stolen bases in the second game to finish with 10 on the day. The RiverHawks entered the doubleheader with seven steals total through the first eight games of the season. By comparison, Missouri S&T was 0-for-2 in stolen-base attempts combined in the two contests.

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