TAHLEQUAH – Unlike most of NSU's Athletic Department, RiverHawks softball was largely unscathed outside of their weekend tournament in the Oklahoma City metroplex moving back two days. NSU plays Oklahoma Baptist Sunday evening and then meets Colorado Christian and East Central Monday afternoon.
THE SCHEDULE
- Sunday, Feb. 21 5:30 p.m. Oklahoma Baptist at Oklahoma Christian
- Monday, Feb. 22 12:30 p.m. Colorado Christian at Oklahoma Christian
- Monday, Feb. 22 5:30 p.m. East Central at Central Oklahoma
THE LEAD OFF
- NSU went 2-1 to open the season downing Southwestern Oklahoma and Southern Nazarene before falling to Cameron to close the weekend. Fifth-year senior Cameron Conrad pushed her reached base streak to 19 games and had a hit in each game. Starter Gail Young pitched complete games in both victories.
- Multiple RiverHawks had success at the plate to open the season. Rhomie Bradshaw, Addie Elbon, Conrad, and Jaeden Rosenquist all are hitting .300 or better. Rosenquist and Conrad each had two doubles and Conrad hit a home run.
- With 47 career wins in the circle, Gail Young is 13 off from Kayce Wooldridge (2013-16), who holds NSU's NCAA era mark for wins by a starting pitcher.
- In the last three seasons, NSU is 8-2 when playing games at Oklahoma Christian.
ABOUT THE FOES
Oklahoma Baptist - 14-10 (10-2 GAC) - 2020 finish
- The RiverHawks are 56-24-1 versus the Bison all-time and last met Feb. 20, 2001.
- Oklahoma Baptist had its first four games canceled due to the weather.
- They return senior Kaytlyn Marsh who hit .452 last season.
- The Bison are picked to finish sixth in the Great American Conference and are led by third-year head coach Sam Maples.
Colorado Christian - 20-7 (10-2 RMAC) - 2020 finish
- The Cougars open their season this weekend and in the all-time series with the RiverHawks are 1-1.
- Last season, NSU won 8-0 in five innings in Edmond.
- The Cougars will close their four-game weekend with the RiverHawks.
- Are led by third-year head coach Larry Hays and are tabbed to finish second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
East Central - 4-15 (1-11 GAC) - 2020 finish
- The RiverHawks hold a 40-25 advantage all-time and the squads did not meet in 2020.
- The Tigers are 2-0 this season but have not played since Feb. 2 at Newman in a doubleheader that ECU scored 18 runs and allowed nine.
- ECU is led by Destini Anderson who is in her 13th year at the helm and are picked to finish tenth in the GAC
Up next: NSU hosts the NSU Cherokee Nation Festival Friday and Saturday. They will play four games against four different NAIA schools.
