TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State was unable to break back into the win column as Missouri Western took the first of the three game set 5-3 at a chilly Rousey Field here Saturday.

The RiverHawks have now dropped four straight falling to 17-15 and 8-11 in MIAA action.

Northeastern State found itself struggling to find any offense early in the contest, allowing Missouri Western to jump to a 5-0 lead after four and half innings.

The RiverHawks started to chip away at the Griffons lead in the fourth inning.  Tristan Ridenour walked and moved to second on a Jaxon Phipps single.   Reid Fehr load the bases with an infield single, that was followed by a Michael Rhea two-RBI double cut the Griffons lead to 5-2. NSU would leave the bases loaded to end the third inning.

NSU added another run in the fifth inning.  Singles from Colton Wright and Phipps put RiverHawks at first and third with two outs.  Fehr's second single of the game plated Wright to pull to within 5-3 after five innings of play.

The RiverHawks could not get any closer and falling 5-3 in the series opener.

Dustin Berrong fell to 5-4 on the year going six and third innings, giving up all five Griffons runs on six hits while striking out three. James Cowell allowed only one hit and struck out one in two plus innings of relief.

The RiverHawks and Griffons will return to Rousey Field for game two on Sunday afternoon.  Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.