TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - The Northeastern State softball team picked up a pair of walkoff victories on the second day of the 4th Annual NSU Softball Festival Sunday at RiverHawks Park.

The RiverHawks (10-4) opened the day with a 10-0 run-rule victory over Rogers State (4-9) before coming from behind to defeat Wisconsin-Parkside (1-7) 4-3.

The first game ended when redshirt freshman Haley Acrey hit a three-run home run to bring into effect the eight-run rule. True freshman Kelsey Harmon then blasted a walkoff grand slam in the nightcap to lift NSU to victory over the Rangers. The RiverHawks have now recorded three walkoff home runs this season.

NSU is off to the second-fastest start to a season in school history, reaching the 10-win plateau in just 14 games. The 2007 team is the only club that reached 10 wins in fewer games (10-2).

Northeastern State and UW-Parkside will be at it again on the final day of the NSU Softball Festival. The two teams will compete in a single game at 10 a.m. Feb. 22 at RiverHawks Park.

NORTHEASTERN STATE 10, ROGERS STATE 0 (6 innings)
The run-rule victory in the first game of the day for NSU pushed its win streak to five games over the Hillcats. The RiverHawks are also now 7-1 against Rogers State in their last eight meetings.

Northeastern State got on the board early with its fourth and fifth first-inning runs of the season thanks to RBI hits from sophomore Paige Gann and Acrey.

The RiverHawks pushed across a pair of insurance runs in the fourth on a home run from senior Megan Ewton that cleared the scoreboard in left field. NSU then erupted for six more tallies in the sixth inning that halted proceedings, which was capped by Acrey's three-run walkoff homer.

She finished 4-for-4 with four runs batted in and two runs scored. Gann was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs, while sophomore Jessica Boone went 2-for-4 with one run.

Rogers State generated just four hits in the contest, and two of those came off the bat of Katlin Alexander.

Senior Kayce Wooldridge (6-1) was dominant in the circle as she earned her second shutout in three days and the 10th of her career. She struck out seven and did not issue a walk, and only one of her four hits allowed left the infield.

Wooldridge now has 45 career victories, which is tied for most in RiverHawks history in NSU's NCAA era (since 1998).

RSU starter Jessica Christian (2-4) absorbed the loss after conceding four runs on six hits in 3.0 innings. Rachel Jones threw the next 2.1 frames and gave up three runs on three hits. She also walked four and struck out just two. Mayra Helguera entered the game in a relief appearance and did not record an out. She gave up three runs on three hits.

NORTHEASTERN STATE 4, WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE 3
NSU's offense was non-existent for the first six innings of the contest, but the bats came alive when it mattered most.

UW-Parkside built an early 2-0 lead after pushing across a pair of runs in the third inning. The two runs were scored on RBI singles from Kellie Fenza and Carly Dundee.

The visitors then added a pinch-hit solo home run from Jordan Nichols in the top of the final frame to take what appeared to be an insurmountable 3-0 advantage.

The RiverHawks rally began when Ewton and sophomore Bailey Applegate drew back-to-back walks to begin the seventh inning. Junior Ryan Martin then lobbed a hit just over the pitcher that went down as an infield single to juice the bases. Harmon, the 9-hole hitter for Northeastern State, then stepped to the plate and calmly belted a 1-0 count over the right-field fence to record the walkoff triumph.

NSU had just five hits in the game, with two each coming from Harmon and true freshman Kyla Ibarra.

Rachel Seefeldt went 2-for-3 and was the lone Ranger with multiple hits.

True freshman Taryn Gray (3-1) tossed all 7.0 innings for the green and white to earn the victory in the circle. She did not issue a free pass and used a season-high 99 pitches to record a season-best four strikeouts.

Bridget Jost was credited with a no-decision after throwing a solid 5.2 innings. She gave up just three hits and no runs, while walking two and striking out two. Amber Ramos (0-2) came on in relief and proceeded to give up all four runs on two hits in 0.1 innings.

-GoRiverHawksGo.com-