JOPLIN, Mo. – Northeastern State scored six runs in the ninth inning to beat Missouri Southern 14-12 in a see-saw battle on Sunday.
The RiverHawks rallied from behind three times on the Lions with 12 runs being scored by both dugouts in the final two innings.
Butch Rea got NSU within a run in the sixth on a double down the left field line and then
Michael Rhea tied the game at seven in the next frame with a single through the left side to plate
Chad Reibenspies.Â
Jordan Payne in the eighth basted his MIAA leading 15th homer as the go-ahead run for the RiverHawks.
Despite the rally, it was short-lived and Southern tied the game on a suicide-squeeze bunt with a runner on third. Later in the same inning, MSSU went up 10-8 with a two-run homer.
In the ninth, NSU opened the inning with a walk, and a ground-rule double to get the tying run at second. Rhea got the RiverHawks within a run on a ground-ball RBI out; Rea later tied the game with a single to right field.   Northeastern State loaded the bases and recorded the second out with a force out at home before Reibenspies scored the go-ahead run on a hit-by-pitch.  Â
Dakota Morse gave NSU extra insurance with a bases clearing double to put them up 14-10 on the Lions.Â
Even with a four run lead, MSSU ended up getting the tying run on second, with the bases loaded following a two RBI single. With two outs to work with,
Dustin Berrong worked himself out of the jam getting a foul-out, and then a strikeout to end the game.
Hits were even at 15 with Rhea going 3-for-5, and Morse having a four RBI afternoon;
Bryce Davenport drew four walks and scored three runs. Â
Dakota Woods hit his second homer of the season and drew three walks in the win.Â
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Zach Parish concluded his sophomore season by going 6 1/3 innings,
Zach Poehl (2-2) picked up the win in his final appearance in a NSU uniform.
With the series loss to the RiverHawks, Missouri Southern (26-24, 18-18 MIAA) hung onto the eighth seed in next weekend's MIAAÂ Tournament by a game over Pitt State.
Northeastern State concludes their season winning 3-for-4 and holding a 22-25 overall record, with a 15-20 record in the MIAA.
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