TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State once again used late inning heroics to rally for a 9-8 victory over Missouri Western at Rousey Field here Monday.

The RiverHawks improved to 19-15 and 10-11 in MIAA play.

After taking game two of the series on a walk off grand slam, the RiverHawks found themselves once again trailing heading to bottom of the ninth inning.

Missouri Western plated a run in the first inning to take the early 1-0 advantage.  NSU quickly erased the deficit with two swings in the second.  Tristan Ridenour belted his eighth home run of year; a solo shot tied the game and Colton Wright followed with another solo shot, his fifth of the year to give the RiverHawks the 2-1 advantage.

Northeastern State extended the lead in the fourth, plating four runs in the inning as hits from Zack Henderson, Alex Massie all collected RBI's in the frame as the RiverHawks lead ballooned to 6-1.

NSU starter Jonathan Smithey ran into trouble in the sixth inning, a walk, hit batsman and single loaded the bases with no outs. A dropped fly ball plated two runs chased Smithey.  Another Griffon's single later in the frame cut the RiverHawks lead to 6-5.

Missouri Western retook the lead in the seventh with two runs and added another in the ninth to lead 8-6 heading to the RiverHawks ninth.

Once again Northeastern state would rally in the final frame.  A leadoff walk from Zane Takhar, a single from Oscar Resendez Jr. forced a Griffon's pitching change.  Back to back errors allowed the RiverHawks to tie the game at 8-8. With bases loaded and two outs, Derek Shedden was hit by a pitch forcing home the winning run.
Brayden Boyd, James Cowell, Trevor Nance all saw action on the mound for Northeastern State, but it was Nolan Sturgeon (2-1) who got the final two outs in the ninth to pick up the win.

Next action for the RiverHawks will be on Wednesday as Central Oklahoma visits Rousey Field. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m.  NSU will then head to Hays, Kan. for a weekend series with Fort Hays State.