PITTSBURG, Kansas – Northeastern State dropped the first game of the three-game series with Pitt State by a final of 5-2. The RiverHawks had eight hits to outhit the Gorillas by two, but committed two errors and walked 10.
 
THE BASICS
Final score: Pittsburg State 5, Northeastern State 2
Records: PSU 6-1 (3-1 in MIAA), NSU 3-2 (2-2 in MIAA)
NSU pitcher of record: T.J. Mullins (0-2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gorillas struck first by scoring two in the second inning on three walks, three hits and advanced on two wild pitches.
 
Northeastern State cut the lead in half in the third after Tucker Dunlap led off the inning with a walk. Blaze Brothers had his first hit of the day on a single through the left side before Collin Klingensmith hit a hot shot up the middle for his first RBI of the season.
 
In the bottom of the fourth Pitt State got their first three batters on base to run NSU starter T.J. Mullins from the game. Cohen Bell got out of a bases loaded jam with a strikeout of PSU's cleanup hitter.
 
The RiverHawks got back within one run on a liner over the right field fence by Blake Freeman with one down.
 
Pitt State drew three-straight walks in their half of the inning to put a two spot on the board and close the scoring for both teams.
 
NSU had a chance to cut back into the three-run lead in the eighth following a Brothers double and Brayden Rodden walk off the PSU reliever but NSU was thrown out twice on the base paths.
 
INSIDE THE BOX

• Blake Freeman was a triple shy of the cycle.
• PSU drew 10 walks while NSU only got two free passes. Northeastern State also hit two batters.
• Pitt State stranded 12 runners and only had six hits on the day.

 
HEAD COACH JAKE HENDRICK'S TAKE
"You cannot walk that many guys and expect to win on Friday or ever. We'll get better from it. We did not execute very well on the mound."
 
UP NEXT
NSU plays two with Pitt State tomorrow starting at 1 p.m.