PITTSBURG, Kan. --- Alex Massie went 3-4 at the plate including his second home run of the weekend and Blake Freeman was 2-4 with two RBI as the RiverHawks fell 5-4 to Pittsburg State in MIAA baseball action at Ortolani Field here Saturday.

The loss drops Northeastern State to 10-24 on the year and 7-13 in conference play.

Massie and Freeman combined for five of the six NSU hits and Erick Espinosa belted his first home run of the 2019 season.

RiverHawks starter Dustin Berrong turned in a solid performance, going five innings, allowing three hits while striking out four.  One of the three hits came in the second innings, a two-run home run for the Gorillas.

Pittsburg State carried that 2-0 lead into the fifth inning.  

The RiverHawks began to claw its way back into the game in the fifth.  Massie led off the frame with his fifth home run of the year cutting PSU lead to 2-1.  NSU tied the game in the sixth inning on Espinosa's solo blast to left field.  

Trevor Smith came on in relief for Berrong in the sixth and the Gorillas took advantage of the NSU bullpen.  A leadoff solo home run and a two-run home run later in the frame put Pittsburg State in front 5-2 after six innings.

Freeman led a RiverHawks rally in the seventh inning, his two-RBI single cut the deficit to a single run at 5-4 but was not able to get any closer.  

Northeastern State will look to avoid the sweep on Sunday in the final game of the series. First pitch is set for 12:00 pm.