TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State made quick work on Fort Hays State in their home opener taking game one 3-0 and run ruling the Tigers in five innings, 8-0 at RiverHawks Park on Friday afternoon.  The MIAA doubleheader took just over three hours to complete with NSU (10-8, 2-0 MIAA) only allowing three hits in both contests.
 
NSU freshman starting pitcher Gail Young (5-3) needed only 75 pitches to toss her first career shutout in the opener.  Kyla Ibarra plated the RiverHawks' first run in the second inning on a RBI single.   In the fifth, Jess Schuler doubled in Paige Gann in from second to put NSU up two.  Northeastern State's third run came off the bat of Delaney Neal in a pinch it situation in the sixth.
 
In the nightcap, Sierra Crick opened the offense up for NSU with a first pitch home run in the opening frame and the RiverHawks never looked back.  Neal in the second inning doubled to center and Gann hit a one-out homerun to center a frame later to go up three on FHSU. 
 
The floodgates flew open in the fourth with the Tigers trying to get the force out at third with two runners on.  An errant throw would allow a NSU run to cross home plate.  The RiverHawks would plate two more runs before Haley Acrey doubled to right center bring home Crick and Addison Elbon to bring the lead up to 8-0.
 
Northeastern State's offense was more than enough for freshman pitcher Sydney Balderrama (5-3) who recorded her first career shutout.
 
The wins over the Tigers (4-16, 0-2 MIAA) bring Northeastern State's winning streak up to five games.
 
The RiverHawks will return to the field on Saturday to host Nebraska-Kearney for a conference doubleheader starting at 10 a.m.
 
SCHEDULE NOTE
Northeastern State's original start time was 11 a.m. on Saturday.