JOPLIN, Mo. – Northeastern State plated four runs in the final three frames to take a 7-5 win at Missouri Southern and prevented a sweep on Monday afternoon.  The RiverHawks (9-7, 2-4 MIAA) for the second day in a row out-hit the Lions (13-3, 2-1) by a pair with 11 and halted a ten game winning streak for Southern.  
 
Blake Vandegrift broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth with a RBI and later added to the RiverHawks' lead in the sixth with RBI single to go up by a pair. 
 
Northeastern State never trailed the rest of the way to the Lions.  Erick Espinosa hit his third homer of the season to open the seventh and Gabriel Murillo an inning later left the yard for the first time in NSU uniform with a two run shot to right center.
 
Zane Takhar had three hits for NSU with a double and Alex Massie had a pair of doubles. 
 
Jonathan Smithey in his first career start went four innings with a pair of strikeouts.  John Rains (2-2) tossed 3 1/3 out of the bullpen and was the pitcher of record on Monday. 
 
Brayden Boyd recorded the final five outs with two punch-outs to earn his first save at NSU.
 
The RiverHawks will have no break and quickly hosts Southwestern Oklahoma on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in a mid-week non-conference tilt.