TAHLEQUAH – After playing their first four MIAA series at home Northeastern State heads to Central Missouri and Lincoln this weekend in search of its first sweep since March 11.

THE LEAD OFF

• The RiverHawks are 16-10 on the season and 4-4 in conference play. This weekend's series will be the first true road games for NSU of the season.
• There are four batters hitting over .315 for the RiverHawks. Rhomie Bradshaw leads the group batting .421 with 17 extra base hits. She and Alyssia Crick lead the slugging effort with seven home runs each. Addy Wolfe's .471 on-base percentage is ninth in the MIAA.
• NSU leads the conference with 31 long balls which is sixth nationally and NSU is fourth nationally in doubles (51).
• The first baseman/left fielder Bradshaw is third in the MIAA with 12 stolen bases.
• Gail Young (10-3) has thrown 29.0 more innings than any other conference pitcher and her 12 complete games is the second-most nationally. She has 56 wins in her career, four off of Kayce Wooldridge (2013-16), who holds NSU's NCAA era mark for wins by a starting pitcher. 
• NSU's top pitchers, Young and Jenna Chassie, each have been steady of late. Combined they have a 2.98 ERA. Chassie limits opponents to just a .235 average which is 11th in the conference.
• Fans will be allowed and are asked to socially distance the best they can at both schools.

LAST WEEKEND RECAP

• NSU split its home series with Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western.
• The RiverHawks' bats hit two home runs in the 6-3 setback to the Bearcats before run-ruling them 9-1 in five innings Friday night.
• NSU had nine hits to win the first game with Griffons 6-4. The 4-1 nightcap loss was a pitchers duel but Jenna Chassie was outlasted in the seventh after throwing six scoreless frames

ABOUT THE FOES
Central Missouri 15-7 (4-2 in MIAA) – Friday April 2 3/5 p.m.

• UCM holds a slim 12-10 advantage since 2000 over NSU. The teams split the last meeting which came in 2019.
• The Jennies are 9-1 in Warrensburg and looking to improve it coming off an 0-4 weekend vs No. 25 Central Oklahoma and No. 3 Augustana (S.D.).
• There are five players hitting over .360. As a team Central Missouri hits .327 which is second-best in the MIAA.
• The Jennies' staff is led by Sadie Parks with a 1.96 ERA. It is sixth in the conference. The five-pitcher staff has a 2.67 combined ERA.
• UCM is hosting its "Pink Out Game" and tickets are required.

Lincoln 3-18-1 (1-9 in MIAA) – Saturday April 3 12/2 p.m.

• The Blue Tigers won their first MIAA contest but have dropped the last nine.
• Since 2012, NSU has dominated the series by winning the last 16.
• Emily Williams (.352) and Jacqueline Marquez (.351) are the lone Blue Tigers to hit over .300. As a team Lincoln hitting just .238 and slugs .339.
• Six Blue Tigers have gotten into the circle this spring. The staff has a 5.92 ERA.

UP NEXT: NSU will make the trip to Missouri Southern (Friday) and Pitt State (Saturday) next weekend.