TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State baseball opened its MIAA slate at home with a 9-7 loss to Northwest Missouri. The RiverHawks cranked out 12 hits and had the bases loaded in the eighth inning but the two-out rally fell short. NSU had four doubles and two home runs in the setback.
 
THE BASICS
Final score: Northwest Missouri 9, Northeastern State 7
Records: Northeastern State 1-1 (0-1 in MIAA), Northwest Missouri 2-2 (1-0 in MIAA)
NSU pitcher of record: T. J. Mullins (0-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Northwest started the scoring with a home run in the second inning off NSU starter Mullins who struck out six in his 4.2 innings of work. It then tacked on two more following a bases loaded single in the third.
 
Northeastern State responded with three straight hits in its half of the third to bring the score to 3-2. Tucker Dunlap and Blaze Brothers each had doubles for the RiverHawks.
 
The Bearcats plated four in the fifth on three singles and their second home run of the game. They then added two more on two hits in the sixth including a home run.
 
Not to be outdone Brothers had a home run over the left field fence with one out in the fifth.

Jaxon Phipps led off the bottom half of the sixth with a no doubt roundtripper to left field and Dunlap had a two-out triple. In the seventh, NSU got back within four, 9-5, after Rodden doubled to left center and was driven in by Blake Freeman.
 
Northeastern State drew four walks in the eighth and loaded the bases with two down but could not rally all the way back.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The RiverHawks out hit the Bearcat 12-11.
• Tucker Dunlap was a home run away from the cycle. Blaze Brothers reached base three times and drove in two runs.
• All but two NSU players had a base knock.
• NSU used five pitchers that combined to strikeout 10 Bearcats.

UP NEXT
The RiverHawks host the Bearcats for a doubleheader Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.