TAHLEQUAH, Okla. ---- Jaxon Phipps collected two hits and drove in two as the RiverHawks picked up a 4-3 victory over Fort Hays State in MIAA action at Thomas C. Rousey Field here Thursday.

The RiverHawks picked up its first series-opening victory of the year and have now won back to back games improving to 5-21 and 3-10 in conference action.

Jonathan Smithey turned in a solid performance on the hill, going six innings allowing three runs on six hits and struck out four.  Smithey earned his first victory of the year moving to 1-1.

Northeastern State used a pair of hits in the opening frame to take a 1-0 lead.  Erick Espinosa doubled and scored on a Phipps single.

An Alex Massie triple and a Michael Conn double to open the second inning pushed the RiverHawks lead to 2-0 after two innings of play.

NSU took advantage of a Fort Hay State error and three hits in the fourth inning to plate two.  Colton Wright's leadoff double and Blake Freeman single set up the first run.  Freeman stole his seventh base of the year and a throwing error scored Wright.  Phipps collected his second RBI of the game later in the frame with a single through the left side of the Tigers infield for a 4-0 RiverHawks lead.

Fort Hays State plated a run in the sixth inning and forced the RiverHawks to go to the bullpen in the seventh inning after scoring two runs off Smithey.  Trevor Nance came on and shut the Tigers bats down for 2.2 innings and Trevor Smith came on in the ninth inning to get the final out to secure the 4-3 victory.

Due to the pending weather on Saturday,  the two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday starting at 11:30 am.

Be sure to check www.goriverhawksgo.com for any schedule changes.