JOPLIN, Mo. – Northeastern State split the road doubleheader with No. 9 Missouri Southern Saturday afternoon. The RiverHawks were limited to just 10 hits but found clutch performances in the nightcap. C.D White had five singles on the day and Nic Swanson threw 8.2 scoreless in the Game 2 victory.
 
GAME 1
THE BASICS
Final Score: Northeastern State 0, Missouri Southern 5
NSU Pitcher of Record: Seth Key (L, 3-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Seth Key allowed the first two runners to reach to start the game but got the middle of the lineup in order to escape an early jam.
 
In the top of the second NSU's Blake Freeman was hit by a pitch followed by a Jaxon Phipps walk to put two on. Missouri Southern's starter Zach Parish got out of the jam.
 
The RiverHawks would load the bases on two walks and a catcher's interference to start the third but three consecutive batters struck out to leave them loaded.
 
The starters struck out each batter they faced in the fourth.
 
In the fifth inning, with just two hits prior, the Lions had six hits to score four runs. Cohen Bell came on to close out the inning and got two pop outs on the infield.
 
It was Bell's first work in two weeks and he went the remaining 3.2 innings allowing just one run on a homer in the sixth.
 
Down 5-0 in the ninth, C.D. White singled to third base before Michael Conn delivered a pinch hit single through the left side with two outs.
 
INSIDE THE BOX

• Blaze Brothers drew a walk and pushed his reached base streak to 27 games.
• White had two hits in the game, both singles, and Brayden Rodden delivered the lone extra base hit with a double in the fifth inning.
• The teams are now in a deadlock for second place in the MIAA with 16-6 records.

 
GAME 2
THE BASICS
Final Score: Northeastern State, Missouri Southern
NSU Pitcher of Record: Nic Swanson (8-0)
NSU Save: Dakodah Jones (7)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Northeastern State starter Nic Swanson cruised through three innings but allowed two singles to lead off the fifth. He struck out the next two before allowing an infield single to load the bases. MOSO put a pinch hitter to the plate that Swanson struck out on a 3-2 count after seven pitches.
 
The RiverHawks were held hitless until White delivered a single the other way with two outs in the fifth.
 
With two outs in the sixth Brothers homered over the left field wall to break the scoreless tie.
 
Blake Freeman reached on an error with one down in the seventh and advanced to second on a wild pitch. White came to the plate with two outs and singled to left center to give NSU a bit more of a cushion. The very next batter, true freshman left fielder Nathan Norris, tripled to right center to score another run.
 
NSU looked for further insurance in the ninth but left two on.
 
Swanson took the mound in the bottom half looking for his second complete game of his career and season. After getting the first batter he faced looking at a called strike three he allowed a double. The next batter saw three straight strikes and never took the bat off his shoulders. The MOSO eight-hole hitter took him deep over the right center wall to bring the score to 3-2 and run the RiverHawks starter after 131 pitches. Dakodah Jones needed just three pitches to record the last out via the strikeout and earn his seventh save the spring.

INSIDE THE BOX

• C.D. White was 3-4 at the plate, scored a run and drove in one.
• It was the first win since March 27 being outhit.
• Swanson struck out a career-high 14.

UP NEXT
Northeastern State remains in Joplin for the rubber game. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. tomorrow.