TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State softball team picked up one win and one loss in an MIAA doubleheader with Fort Hays State Friday afternoon at RiverHawks Park.
 
The Tigers (13-18, 7-7 MIAA) won the first contest 2-1 before the RiverHawks (18-15, 6-6 MIAA) collected a 4-3 nine-inning walkoff win in the second.
 
Senior pitcher Kayce Wooldridge (13-5) threw 12.1 innings on the day and finished with one win and one loss. She tossed exactly 200 pitches and ended with 12 strikeouts and just one walk. She now has 108 K's on the season, surpassing the century mark for the first time in her career. Wooldridge also held the Tigers to eight hits total and just two runs scored.
 
Sophomore Paige Gann led the green and white at the plate, as she finished 4-for-6 overall with her third home run of the season.
 
Northeastern State will now play host to Nebraska-Kearney in a doubleheader beginning at noon March 26.
 
FORT HAYS STATE 2, NORTHEASTERN STATE 1
Both starting pitchers were lights out in the first game, as Gann's solo home run in the fourth inning was the only damage done to the scoreboard in the first six frames by either side.
 
The Tigers were able to plate two runs in the top of the seventh to steal the opening game of the day. Tori Beltz led off the inning with a solo home run and Samantha Villarreal later scored the game-winning run on an infield single by Mackenzie Villarreal.
 
FHSU pitcher Paxton Duran had a dominant first game in the circle, as she struck out 15 RiverHawks to earn the win. She allowed just three hits (two to Gann) and issued just one walk.
 
Wooldridge was equally as impressive through six innings, as she conceded just two hits entering the final inning of play. She ended the first game with two runs conceded on five hits, while striking out six and issuing no walks.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE 4, FORT HAYS STATE 3 (9 innings)
The green and white earned the split after sophomore Jessica Boone recorded a walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth inning to plate junior Ryan Martin. Martin led off the bottom of the ninth with a double and was sacrificed to third by true freshman Baylee Ratliff before being driven home by Boone.
 
The second game had more offense in the opening innings, but the RiverHawks brought back Wooldridge to pitch and the Tigers trotted Duran back to the circle. As expected, the runs were immediately halted until the green and white was able to crack Duran (8-11) in extras.
 
NSU outhit FHSU 12-10 and was led with two hits each from Boone, Gann, junior Madison Boyd and true freshman Kyla Ibarra. Boone and redshirt freshman Haley Acrey both had two runs batted in.
 
Samantha Villarreal was 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run, while Rilee Krier, Madeline LaPolla and Kylie Strand all had two hits.
 
Senior Delaney Gray took the circle first for NSU and gave up three runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings. Wooldridge threw the final 5.1 frames and did not allow a run. She gave up just three hits, while striking out six and walking just one.
 
Carrie Clarke threw first for Fort Hays State and left after just three frames. She gave up three runs on five hits. Duran threw the final 5.1 frames and conceded just the game-winning run on seven hits. She struck out four and walked one.
 
-GoRiverHawksGo.com-