TAHLEQUAH, OK ---- Northeastern State's Zack Henderson had a day at the plate, including a go-ahead grand slam, but Northwest Missouri State rallied with six runs in the ninth inning to claim a 19-15 victory in a wild MIAA conference game at Thomas C. Rousey Field here Sunday.

NSU falls to 2-11 and 1-2 in conference action, the Bearcats improve to 6-7 and 2-1.

The RiverHawks and Bearcats locked heads in a marathon contest that lasted four hours and 20 minutes, combined for 34 runs, 35 hits on the afternoon and saw 11 pitchers take the mound.

The big inning was a friend of both teams, Northeastern State posted five runs in the second and six in the eighth inning, Northwest Missouri countered with seven runs in the fourth inning, four in the eight and six in the ninth inning.

NSU starter Trevor Smith gave the RiverHawks three solid innings of work, allowing one hit and struck out five.  

The Northeastern State bats were on fire early.  Wes O'Neill and Henderson opened the second inning with back to back singles.  After a sacrifice bunt from Michael Conn, Gabe Simons walked loading the bases.  After the Bearcat starter left the game due to injury, Colton Wright's double plated two runs giving NSU a 2-0 lead.  Walks earned by Blake Freeman, Erick Espinosa, and Colton Burgess plated two more and Jaxon Phipps ground rounded a five-inning giving the RiverHawks a 5-0 lead after two innings.
Errors were a big part of the game for the RiverHawks, the first came in the third inning that extended the Bearcat third inning allowing two runs to score cutting the NSU lead to 5-2.

NSU added another run in the third inning, singles from Henderson and Michael Conn to open the frame gave way to Freeman whose infield single extended the lead to 6-2.

After an NSU pitching change to open the fourth inning, the Bearcats exploded for seven runs, using six hits and taking a 9-6 lead.

After a scoreless fifth inning, the RiverHawks chipped into the lead in the sixth inning.  Henderson opened with a double, Conn and Simons walked to load the bases.  Wright's single plated a run and Colton Burgess walk added another one cutting the deficit to 9-8 after six innings of play.

After a scoreless seventh inning, the two teams would combine for 17 runs and 16 hits over the final two innings.

Northwest Missouri State used five hits to plate four runs in the eighth inning to extend its lead to 13-8.

The RiverHawks rallied in the eighth to capture the lead.  Wright led off the frame with a walk, Espinosa and Burgess both singled to load the bases.  Jaxon Phipps reached on a Bearcat error that plated two.  O'Neill singled to load the bases bringing up Henderson.  Henderson blasted an 0-1 fastball over the left field wall giving the RiverHawks the 14-13 lead.

Northwest Missouri utilized six hits and took advantage of two NSU errors to plate six runs in the final inning regaining the lead at 19-14.

Back to back walks to open the NSU ninth inning and an Espinosa single had the RiverHawks threatening with no outs in the frame.  But only a Phipps sacrifice fly to center was all the RiverHawks could muster falling 19-15.

Northeastern State will return to action on Tuesday, February 26, as the Savage Storm of Southeastern Oklahoma State will visit Rousey Field.  First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.