TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State softball team secured one of two games on the first day of the 4th Annual NSU Softball Festival Saturday at RiverHawks Park.
 
The RiverHawks (8-4) opened the morning session with a 5-2 victory over William Jewell (2-4) before falling to Cameron (12-5) by an 11-3 margin in five innings.
 
Sophomore Paige Gann broke out with a 3-for-5 effort on the day, which included three runs scored. True freshman Jordan Woosley was 3-for-6 overall, while junior Madison Boyd and true freshman Kyla Ibarra were both 2-for-5.
 
Northeastern State will continue with its home tournament at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 21 against Rogers State. The RiverHawks will then face Wisconsin-Parkside at 2 p.m.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE 5, WILLIAM JEWELL 2
William Jewell scored once each in the second and third innings to pull ahead 2-0, and the RiverHawks were sat down the first time through the order as the Cardinals took the early advantage.
 
That was until the fourth inning, when redshirt freshman Haley Acrey blasted what should have been a grand slam to left center that flipped the momentum. The bases were loaded for Acrey's homer, but she passed Gann on the base path and was therefore ruled out. NSU was still credited with three runs scored, and that would be all the home team would need to pick up the first win of the day.
 
The RiverHawks then tacked on two more insurance runs in the sixth on a two-RBI single from Woosley. She finished 2-for-3 with two runs batted in. Gann was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Acrey was 1-for-2 with three RBI and one run.
 
Senior Kayce Wooldridge (5-1) threw a complete game in the circle. She struck out seven for the second-straight day and did not issue a walk. She conceded just two runs on nine hits.
 
Madi Giles went 3-for-4 for the Cardinals. Nona Pauline finished 2-for-4 as William Jewell was able to outhit NSU 9-7.
 
Shelby McGraw (1-1) took the loss after allowing all five runs on six hits in 5.1 frames.
 
CAMERON 11, NORTHEASTERN STATE 3 (5 innings)
NSU was able to play Cameron to a 3-3 draw through three innings, but the visiting Aggies erupted for seven fourth-inning runs to pull ahead for good.
 
CU outhit NSU 12-7, and all seven of the home hits were scattered throughout the lineup. True freshman Kelsey Harmon was 1-for-2 with three runs batted in.
 
Sonora Zukerman was 4-for-4 with two RBI and three runs for Cameron. Breezy McComas was 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs, and Carly Allerheiligen was 2-for-3 with five RBI and one run scored. All three hit home runs in the contest.
 
Junior Mollie Carter made her first appearance in the circle as she earned the starting nod for NSU. She lasted 2.1 innings and allowed three runs on four hits. Senior Delaney Gray (0-2) gave up the next five runs to take the loss, and both true freshman Taryn Gray and junior Jennifer Wolf pitched in the game.
 
Emily Wasinger (4-1) threw all five innings for CU and allowed three runs on seven hits. She struck out just one and issued four walks.

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