TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State baseball team captured its weekend MIAA series over Washburn with a 9-1 victory in Sunday's finale at Rousey Field.
 
The RiverHawks (9-7, 3-3 MIAA) belted three home runs and received a dominant effort on the mound from true freshman Zach Parish that sent the Ichabods (7-7, 3-3 MIAA) home with a series loss.
 
Parish (3-0), the reigning MIAA Pitcher of the Week, threw 7.0 innings and did not allow a run to a Washburn team that had not been shutout since midway through the 2014 season. He conceded just four hits (all singles) and one walk, while striking out six.
 
Parish also received help behind him, as the NSU defense turned four double plays for the second time this season (Rogers State). Entering the season, the last time the RiverHawks had four DP's in a single game was April 2, 2005.
 
The first run of the game came off the bat of senior Cody Begovich, who blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the second to put NSU ahead 1-0. Begovich would be heard from again later in the contest. Senior Justin Burgess brought home fellow senior Gabriel Wurth with an RBI single in the next inning to make it 2-0 after Wurth drew a walk to leadoff the frame.
 
The RiverHawks maintained that lead until the sixth inning, when another swing of the bat from Begovich blew the game open for the green and white.
 
Junior Bryce Davenport led off the sixth with an eight-pitch walk after falling behind 0-2. Burgess singled through the left side and moved to second on a fielder's choice. That brought Begovich to the dish. He fouled off five pitches in the at-bat and pushed the count to 3-2 before finally cranking a no-doubter well over the right field wall.
 
Burgess then blasted a three-run bomb of his own in the seventh to give the home team an insurmountable advantage.
 
Washburn was able to tack on a meaningless run in the top of the ninth to avoid the shutout.
 
Burgess finished 3-for-4 and Begovich was 2-for-3. They both tallied four RBI and two runs scored. Junior Colby Chavez and redshirt freshman Zane Takhar each posted two hits for NSU.
 
WU starter Jacob Head (1-1) lost his first game as a member of the Ichabods after conceding five runs on six hits in 5.2 frames. The visitors needed four relievers to get through the remainder of the contest.
 
Wes Jones was 3-for-4 for Washburn. David Gauntt finished 2-for-3.
 
Northeastern State outhit the Ichabods 11-8 and neither team committed an error in the field.
 
The RiverHawks are next scheduled to host Southwestern Oklahoma State in non-conference action at 1 p.m. March 8. There are currently thunderstorms in the forecast, so be sure to check goriverhawksgo.com for full schedule updates.

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