TAHLEQUAH – Due to rain this upcoming weekend, Northeastern State's MIAA softball openers will start two days sooner than expected. The RiverHawks will host intrastate rival Central Oklahoma for a lunchtime start Wednesday and welcome Newman Thursday.
THE LEAD OFF
- The RiverHawks (10-4) enter MIAA play with a seven-game winning streak and are winners of 15 of their last 16 at home.
- Northeastern State has taken MIAA top-hitting honors for two consecutive weeks, with Alyssia Crick and Chloe Bohuslavicky taking individual awards.
- Rhomie Bradshaw is leading the MIAA in hits and is second in stolen bases.
- At the plate, the RiverHawks are fourth in the MIAA in batting average (.324) and pace all other teams with 19 homers.
- Gail Young is tied for first in the MIAA with seven wins in the circle and has 52 in her career. She is eight off from Kayce Wooldridge (2013-16), who holds NSU's NCAA era mark for wins by a starting pitcher.
ABOUT THE FOES
Central Oklahoma (7-3) | March 9 at 12:30 p.m. (DH)
- Central will host a make-up series with Missouri Southern Tuesday before facing the RiverHawks.
- The Bronchos were picked to win the MIAA and are receiving votes in the NFCA Coaches Poll.
- In last season's meeting, the teams split a pair of 3-2 decisions. Central has won six of the previous seven contests, with the overall series dating back to 1976.
- Among MIAA teams, Central is 11th in batting average and earned run average.
Newman (3-10) | March 10 at 12 p.m. (DH) Tentatively
- Newman will face Rogers State Wednesday before facing the RiverHawks Thursday.
- Since 1995, NSU leads the series 8-1. Last season, the teams split the MIAA series in Wichita.
- The Jets are ninth in the MIAA in batting average (.304) and second to last in ERA (6.57). Newman's pitching staff has allowed 12 homers this season, with batters hitting a .335 clip.
Up Next: NSU hits the road next weekend playing in the Missouri Western Crossover in St. Joseph, Mo.
