TAHLEQUAH – The NSU baseball team will open MIAA play this weekend when they face Northwest Missouri. The series will start Friday at 2 p.m., with the teams playing Saturday afternoon before wrapping up the series Sunday at 1 p.m.

Opening Pitch
1. The series will be the end of a four-game road trip for NSU, who will bring a 5-7 record into the matchup after taking three out of four games from William Jewell over the weekend and dropping a midweek game to Arkansas Tech on Tuesday.

2. Chaz Orr leads the RiverHawks with a .462 batting average and 11 runs batted in. Blake Freeman is batting .385 this season and will bring his 23-game hitting streak into the weekend.  On the mound, it's Cohen Bell who leads the staff, having thrown nine innings, allowing one run and recording seven strikeouts.

3. Jake Hendrick is in his fifth season as NSU head coach. He is assisted by Butch Rea, Tyrie Blalock and Justin Zertuche.

4. The Bearcats are riding a seven-game losing streak, and are coming off a series against the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs where they were swept in a three-game set. Their last win came on Feb. 9 when they beat Oklahoma Baptist 9-2.

5. Connor Quick has the hot bat for the Bearcats, as he will bring a .400 batting average into the series. He has hit two doubles, one triple and has eight runs batted in this season. Matt Gastner has 14 RBI to lead in that category, along with his four home runs.

Up Next: The RiverHawks will host Northwestern Oklahoma on Tuesday afternoon at Rousey Field before welcoming Pittsburg State for a three-game weekend series.