ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Northeastern State led for six innings but a sac fly and a two run homer by No. 25 Lindenwood in the later frames doomed the RiverHawks in their MIAA opener on a chilly Friday evening.
Game time temperatures dipped into the upper 30s with a start time that was bumped up an hour to avoid possible rain showers. Northeastern State (6-4, 0-1 MIAA) had problems at the plate and on the field with 12 strikeouts and four errors against a Lions (8-3, 1-0 MIAA) squad went to NCAA College World Series last spring.
The RiverHawks scored their lone run in the opening frame on a
Zach Henderson single through the right side to score
Zane Takhar in from third. NSU had chances to advance their score leaving a runner in scoring position in the next two innings. With the score holding at 1-0, the RiverHawks would get a base runner on third with no outs but a fielder's choice to short caught the NSU lead runner trying to score and would be thrown out at home.
In the sixth, Northeastern State loaded the bases with one out but a pop up to first and a five pitch strikeout killed the threat.
NSU starter
Dustin Berrong (3-1) with little run support and nine baserunners left on-base had little wiggle room to work with. A one out triple in the home half of the sixth would later tie the game at 1-1 on a sac fly. Berrong continued working into the eighth and got the first two outs with a batter reaching by a four pitch walk. Now working on his 31st batter of the evening, the Lions would hit a no-doubt homer to left for the go-ahead runs.
In the ninth, NSU did get the tying run to the plate with two outs but the game would conclude on a fly out to center.
Berrong on this fourth appearance of the season went 7 2/3 innings while striking out four batters.
John Rains came in out of the pen and needed 11 pitches to punch out the lone Lion he faced.
Northeastern State was limited to four hits with
Oscar Resendez Jr. going 2-for3 at the plate.
Weather permitting the RiverHawks will return to the field Saturday for a 3 p.m. start with
Ben Strahm as the projected starter.
