TOPEKA, Kansas – Northeastern State baseball split the doubleheader for the first time this season, but with the series win, made history as it is the first time NSU has won four-straight series in MIAA play. The RiverHawks' rally in the day game came up just short and Nic Swanson threw a complete game in the nightcap.
 
Game 1
THE BASICS
Final score: Northeastern State 4, Washburn 7
NSU pitcher of record: Jonathan Smithey (L, 2-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The RiverHawks loaded the bases in the first inning but could bring in a run.
 
Washburn used the windy conditions to their advantage in the bottom of the second driving a leadoff double to left field. The Ichabods jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a two-out double. NSU catcher, Brayden Rodden, picked off that runner at second base to end the frame.

The Ichabods picked up an unearned run in the third after three batters reached.
 
Washburn would extend their lead to 7-0 with runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
 
The RiverHawks refused to be shutout and scored all four of their runs in the ninth. Blake Freeman led off the frame with a single before C.D. White and Chaz Orr each delivered one-out singles. After Tucker Dunlap drew a walk Blaze Brothers singled to left field but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double.

INSIDE THE BOX

• Brothers and Freeman each had two hits.
• Jaxon Phipps' 11-game hit streak came to a halt, Freeman pushed his to 19 games.
• Smithey threw had his third start of 6.0 innings or more of the season.

Game 2
THE BASICS
Final score: Northeastern State 5, Washburn 1
NSU pitcher of record: Nic Swanson (W, 4-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED
NSU got on the board first after C.D. White singled through the right side in the second inning.
 
The RiverHawks got two runners on via a hit by pitch and walk before Freeman doubled down the left field line in the third inning to jump out to a 2-0 lead.
 
Nic Swanson cruised until the seventh inning when Brett Ingram homered to left to cut the lead in half.
 
The RiverHawks, who scored four runs the previous two games in the ninth inning, put three on the board in the top of the frame. Freeman doubled to lead off the inning before scoring on a sharp single up the middle from White. After running the Ichabod starter from the game, NSU drew three walks and Topeka native Reid Fehr drove in a run on a single to right field.
 
Swanson came back on looking to earn the complete game win and struck out two including Ingram to close out the series victory as he had four times prior.

INSIDE THE BOX

• Freeman extended his hitting streak with three base knocks while White continued his nine-game streak with two hits.
• First complete game for a RiverHawk since April 29, 2016. Swanson threw 26.0 scoreless innings before the home run to lead off the seventh inning. He leads the nation in ERA.

  What was going well for @nicrswanson? According to the man himself, everything. pic.twitter.com/q3wmT4cJJW

  — Northeastern State RiverHawks Baseball (@RiverHawksBSB) March 22, 2021

BLAKE FREEMAN ON HIS 5-7 DAY AT THE PLATE
"It's always big to win a series on the road. I was focused on not getting too big due to the wind blowing in. I knew if I hunted good pitches and tried to hit line drives good things would happen."

UP NEXT
NSU will travel to Durant to play Southeastern Oklahoma State Tuesday at 2 p.m. if the weather allows. The RiverHawks beat the Savage Storm 11-10 earlier this season in Tahlequah.