EMPORIA, Kan. – Northeastern State withstood a late Emporia State rally in Wednesday's nightcap to win 4-3 and split a MIAA doubleheader.  In the opener, the Hornets knocked in two runs in the bottom of the seventh, and later won 4-3 on a walk off single in the ninth inning.
 
To date the RiverHawks (18-15, 6-4 MIAA) have played in five extra-inning games this season, their most since 2014.   In the last six games, Northeastern State has lost three on a walk off.
 
Paige Gann hit her 42nd career homer in the first game with the RiverHawks leading 3-1 in the seventh.  NSU starter Gail Young was nearly unhittable and allowed two hits, with one of them being a home run.  The Hornets would get two on with one out before a RBI single up the middle pulled ESU within one.  A walk followed to load the bases where the Hornets tied the game on a sac fly.
 
Northeastern State went down in order during the eighth and ninth before the Hornets won on a two out single to center field with a runner on second base scoring.
 
In the nightcap, trailing 1-0 in the fourth, the RiverHawks plated all four of their runs.  Sierra Crick hit a two RBI single to centerfield and Addison Elbon had a RBI single during the frame.
 
The Hornets would get a run in the fifth on a sac fly and later pulled within a run in the seventh.  The potential game winning run stood on first after the RiverHawks recorded the first two outs in the frame.  Emporia State hit three straight singles before the game ended on a fielder's choice.
 
Gann finished the contest with three hits, Sydney Balderrama (9-4) struck out four in the complete game effort.
 
The split sends Emporia State to 13-21 and 5-7 in the MIAA.
 
Northeastern State will return home to host Lincoln this Friday for a conference doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. The Blue Tigers will come to Tahlequah winless in their first 12 MIAA contests and 5-25 overall.