TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State baseball team defeated Rogers State 10-3 in a midweek non-conference tilt Tuesday afternoon at Rousey Field.
 
The RiverHawks (4-0) remained perfect through four games this season, while handing the Hillcats (5-1) their first setback of the young campaign.
 
NSU opened the scoring with three runs in the first inning and never looked back. The visitors were able to score twice in the second, but the green and white added a run in the third and two more in the fourth to build a 6-2 advantage.
 
Northeastern State pumped in four more in the bottom of the eighth for good measure to ensure the seven-run triumph.
 
The first three runs for the RiverHawks came off the bat of senior Cody Begovich. He reached out on a 2-2 count and sent a shot deep into right field. The ball used the 24 mph wind to carry the fence for his first home run of the season. He also added an RBI double and scored in the eighth.
 
Begovich and fellow seniors Eric Kirkpatrick, Justin Burgess and Shane Bridges all had two hits as NSU outhit RSU 11-7.
 
True freshman James Cowell earned the start on the mound and picked up a no-decision after conceding two unearned runs on just one hit in the first two innings. Junior Kyle Emmons (1-0) threw the next 6.1 frames and gave up just one run on six hits. Three of those hits and the lone run came in the top of the ninth when NSU was well ahead. He also struck out four and walked one. Junior Bobby Sehgal recorded the final two outs of the contest.
 
Ismael Orozco was the only Hillcat with multiple hits, as he finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
 
RSU starter Michael Fusselman (1-1) was tagged for four runs on six hits in the first 3.0 innings. The visitors needed four relievers to get through the remainder of the contest.
 
Northeastern State loaded the bases in four separate innings and left 12 runners on base. NSU also turned four double plays on the day, which was the most in a single game since April 2, 2005.
 
The RiverHawks will now travel to Alva, Oklahoma, for a three-game set. They will first play host Northwestern Oklahoma State in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. Feb. 12 before taking on West Texas A&M in a non-conference tilt at noon Feb. 13.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH JAKE HENDRICK
Statement…
"First and foremost, it is always nice to get a win. I felt like the game started to get away from us there in the beginning. We just weren't quite as sharp as we would like to be, but the three guys that pitched did their job to keep things under control. Going into today it was definitely a point of emphasis that we were going to try and be the aggressor on the mound. We were able to accomplish that goal. All three arms were constantly working ahead in the count. Kyle (Emmons) obviously did an outstanding job for us and I am very proud of his performance. Our offense continues to not give an inch. We had a lot of competitive at-bats up and down the lineup. You can tell guys are just trying to be the toughest possible out that they can be. As a team, that is all we can ask for. We will look to continue improving as we head into the weekend and prepare for our first test on the road."
 
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