PITTSBURG, Kansas – Northeastern State (5-2, 4-2 MIAA) baseball played two entirely different games in a series-clinching twinbill sweep at Pitt State (6-3, 3-3 in MIAA). The 4-2 record is the best start for NSU in MIAA play since 2015.
 
Catcher Brayden Rodden caught all 18 innings and was 6-9 on the day with a sacrifice fly, he drove in four runs.
 
In the first game, NSU banged out 17 hits for a 16-8 win and then controlled the strike zone in the nightcap 3-0 victory. Game 1 took 3:21 while the second game was an hour shorter. It was the second-straight weekend the RiverHawks swept the doubleheader after dropping the Friday night opener.
 
GAME 1
THE BASICS
Final score: Northeastern State 16, Pittsburg State 8
NSU pitcher of record: Ryan Summers (1-0)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gorillas scored twice in the second inning thanks to a lead off single through the left side and back-to-back walks. The first run scored on a passed ball that took a wild bounce off the turf field plate to hit the press box.
 
C.D. White led off the top of the third with a stinging single up the middle and advanced to third on a Blaze Brothers double down the right field line. Rodden lifted a high fly to center field that was plenty deep to drive in White. Brothers, a speedster for the RiverHawks, advanced to third on the sacrifice fly. With Collin Klingensmith at bat the PSU starter balked to bring in Brothers.
 
NSU continued to see success at the plate with three hits in the fourth. Jaxon Phipps got on base via a hit by pitch with one out before Chaz Orr singled to left. White hit his second single of the game up the middle to score both before scoring himself on a Reid Fehr single to left.
 
Pitt State tied the game with a three-run home run following back-to-back hit by pitches.
 
In the fifth, Rodden doubled to left to lead off before Pitt State allowed NSU to push two across on a wild pitch and dropped pop up.
 
The Gorillas would push across a run in the bottom half and ran NSU starter Jonathan Smithey after 4.2 innings of work.
 
Pitt State was forced to use three pitchers in the sixth as they scored four runs. Rodden and Klingensmith had back-to-back singles to lead off the inning before Phipps doubled to left. Tucker Dunlap, the lone NSU batter to not record a hit, reached on an error before White drove a double to left-center to score the 11th NSU run.
 
The RiverHawks had four singles to center field in the top of the eighth to score three more.
 
Pitt State reached the eight run plateau in the eighth on three base knocks but could not get any closer.
 
Rodden's first home run as a RiverHawk in the top of the ninth gave NSU the eventual 16-8 victory.

Summers threw 4.1 innings of two-run ball for the win out of the bullpen.
 
INSIDE THE BOX

• Every RiverHawk in the starting lineup reached base.
• Rodden (4-5), Orr (3-5) and White (3-5) each drove in three runs apiece.
• Most runs scored in an MIAA game for NSU since April 13, 2018.
• NSU struck out six straight times early but the bats came alive.

 
GAME 2
THE BASICS
Final score: Northeastern State 3, Pittsburg State 0
NSU pitcher of record: Nic Swanson (2-0)
NSU save: Dakodah Jones (1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Northeastern State got on the board in the first with Rodden and Klingensmith back-to-back singles before Phipps, batting fifth, singled through the left side to score the first run of the game.
 
Brothers led off the third inning with a single to left center. Two pitches later he broke for second and advanced to third as the PSU catcher threw the ball into center field. Rodden drove him in a double to the left field wall. Blake Freeman pulled a grounder to second base to score Rodden after he advanced a fly ball to right field by Klingensmith.
 
NSU loaded the bases in the seventh but could not add insurance.
 
Those insurance runs were not needed though as starter Swanson struck out 10 in his 7.1 innings on the bump. He allowed just five hits for his second win of the season in his first two career starts. Jones did not allow a hit in his 1.2 innings of work to pick up his second career save.
 
PITCHER NIC SWANSON ON HIS SECOND STRAIGHT 7-INNING START
"I try to live by like three things when I'm on the mound, and that's intent, focus and pride. I think that's helped me a lot and moving from closer to starter has allowed me to focus on my craft. I just try to fill it up and, honestly, just let them try to hit it and I have good stuff. Today it was on and I really trust the guys behind me."
 
INSIDE THE BOX

• White, Phipps and Rodden each had two hits apiece.
• Two Gorillas split the five hits in the game.
• First staff shutout since Feb. 9, 2018 at Rogers State.

 
HEAD COACH JAKE HENDRICK'S TAKE AFTER WINNING THE SERIES
"There were a lot of things that fire me up right there, that was sweet. There were two completely different baseball games; one that was very offensive, and then, obviously, Nic and Dakotah and what they were able to do against a team that is really offensive those guys can swing it. You were going to half to command the baseball. I mean that was fun, what a great atmosphere too."
 
UP NEXT
NSU returns to Tahlequah for the first of six midweek games this season welcoming Southeastern Oklahoma State to Thomas C. Rousey Field at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Newman will come in on the weekend for a three-game series.