JOPLIN, Mo. - The Northeastern State softball team earned a split on the final day of the 2016 Teri Mathis Zenner Memorial Sunday at the Joplin Athletic Complex.

The RiverHawks (12-7) began the morning session with an 8-3 loss to Drury (4-6) before closing with a 7-1 triumph over Rockhurst (5-9).

Leading the charge at the plate for NSU were junior Madison Boyd and sophomore Jessica Boone. Boyd was 6-for-8 in the two games, while Boone was 5-for-8. Boone scored five times and has now scored in the first inning of four-straight games.

Senior Kayce Wooldridge (8-2) had another impressive outing in the circle. She picked up the victory over the Hawks after allowing just one run on seven hits. The run scored came in the seventh inning after NSU had already amassed a comfortable 7-0 margin. She also struck out five and did not issue a walk.

Wooldridge enters MIAA play as the league's top statistical pitcher through the first half of the season. She is the conference leader in wins (8), complete games (10), shutouts (3) and innings pitched (70.2). She is also second in ERA (1.39) and strikeouts (66).

The RiverHawks will take the midweek off before traveling north to open MIAA play. They are set to begin league action with a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. March 4 against Missouri Western State in St. Joseph, Missouri.

DRURY 8, NORTHEASTERN STATE 3
The contest with the Lady Panthers started on a high for the RiverHawks as they got on the board in the first inning to lead 1-0. NSU had runners on second and third with nobody out but was only able to manage the lone tally.

That would come back to haunt the green and white, as Drury tagged NSU for three runs in the third and five in the fifth to secure the victory.

DU outhit Northeastern State 12-9 and was led by a 3-for-4 effort from Kaelie Smith. She recorded four RBI and scored once. Kari Hillenburg and Karlie Peck were both 2-for-4 with two runs scored each.

Boyd was 4-for-4 in the game and Boone was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. They combined for seven of NSU's nine hits.

True freshman Taryn Gray (3-3) sustained the loss after allowing eight runs on 11 hits in 4.0 innings. Senior Delaney Gray calmed things down in the circle, as she did not give up a run in the final 3.0 frames. She only allowed one hit and one walk, while striking out one.

Shelby Weissenbach (2-3) earned the victory for the Lady Panthers after throwing a complete game. She struck out eight and walked just one, while giving up three runs on nine hits.

NORTHEASTERN STATE 7, ROCKHURST 1
NSU scored in five of six innings to close out the weekend event with a 2-2 record.

Boone and true freshman Kyla Ibarra both scored in the first and innings to give the RiverHawks a lead they would not relinquish. Boone opened the game with a double and was later driven in by redshirt freshman Haley Acrey. Ibarra walked and later scored when senior Megan Ewton's hit caused an error by the shortstop.

Boone scored again in the second on an RBI double from Ibarra, and she was driven around on an RBI single from sophomore Paige Gann. NSU tacked on additional runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings.

Rockhurst had no response until the seventh, when Gabbie Boerema was able to touch home to avoid the shutout. She finished 3-for-3 and was the lone Hawk with multiple hits.

Acrey was 3-for-4, and Boone, Boyd, Gann and junior Ryan Martin all had two hits each. Martin also had an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the sixth and leads the MIAA with 21 RBI this season.

Bridgette Sappington (3-4) went the distance for Rockhurst and absorbed the loss after giving up seven runs on 13 hits. She walked five and only struck out one.

-GoRiverHawksGo.com-