PITTSBURG, Kan. ---- Blake Freeman, Colton Burgess, and Wes O'Neill each hit home runs but the RiverHawks let a four-run lead slip away in a 9-7 loss to Pittsburg State in MIAA baseball action at Al Ortolani Field here Sunday.

After winning seven in a row, NSU has now dropped four straight falling to 10-25 and 7-14 in conference play.

Northeastern State finished the day with 12 hits and all 12 came in a three-inning span where the RiverHawks built a 7-2 advantage.

Zack Henderson and O'Neill got things going in the second inning with back to back singles.  Alex Brough's RBI double gave NSU a 1-0.  Conner West pushed the lead to 2-0 with an RBI sacrifice bunt.  Freeman cleared the bases with his second home run of the year for a 4-0 NSU lead.    

Back to back home runs to open the third inning extended the NSU lead to 6-1.  Burgess connected on his seventh and O'Neill collected his fourth homers of the year. The RiverHawks added another run in the fourth inning.  Freeman doubled to open the fifth inning and scored on an O'Neill single for a 7-3 NSU advantage.

The Pittsburg State pitching staff did not allow another NSU from that point on.

PSU used a five-run sixth inning to take its first lead at 8-7.  The Gorillas added another run in the seventh to capture the 9-7 victory.

NSU reliever Trevor Nance took the loss giving up the five fifth-inning runs.

The RiverHawks will return home to Thomas C. Rousey Field next weekend to take on Central Oklahoma.