MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northeastern State baseball team defeated Northwest Missouri State 9-2 Sunday afternoon at Bearcat Field.
 
The RiverHawks (7-5, 1-2 MIAA) picked up their first conference victory of the year, while the Bearcats (7-5, 2-1 MIAA) lost in league play for the first time this season.
 
NSU was led by a strong performance on the mound by true freshman Zach Parish. In his first league start, he struck out 13 batters and walked just one in 8.0 innings. He threw 126 pitches and allowed just two runs on seven hits to improve to 2-0 on the year.
 
NSU's game-by-game records go back to 2004, and no record exists of a 13-strikeout performance in the last 12 years for a Northeastern State pitcher.
 
Seniors Shane Bridges and Eric Kirkpatrick both went 4-for-5 at the plate as the RiverHawks outhit the Bearcats 13-8. Kirkpatrick tallied four runs batted in, and Bridges scored three times.
 
The lone Bearcat with multiple hits was Nick Gotta, and he finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.
 
Brad Roberts (0-1) suffered the loss on the hill after lasting just 4.0 frames. He gave up four runs on six hits, while walking three and striking out three. Northwest Missouri State used three relievers in the game, and the trio combined to allow five runs on seven hits in 5.0 frames.
 
Northeastern State is next scheduled for a midweek non-conference battle with Arkansas Tech. There is rain in the forecast, but the current start time is for 5 p.m. March 1 in Russellville, Arkansas.

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