ALVA – Northeastern State banged out 19 hits on a windy day at Northwestern but back-to-back home runs in the ninth wasn't quite enough in a 11-10 nonconference setback Tuesday.
 
C.D. White hit two solo shots and three RiverHawks had three-hit days. NSU drove four home runs over the wall in the game and Reid Fehr hit his second triple of the season.
 
The RiverHawks scored a run in each of the first three innings and led 3-1 after a Brayden Rodden solo shot to lead off the third. It would be the biggest lead of the game for Northeastern State.
 
The teams traded leads until the sixth when Northwestern jumped out to a 9-6 lead thanks to a no-doubt two-run long ball by Marques Paige, who leads the nation. NSU scored two runs in the eighth and ninth frames to continue their trend of scoring late.
 
Rodden was 3-5 on the day with four RBI and his two-out bloop single down the right field line plated two in the eighth. Blake Freeman, who singled twice, nearly drove him in a hot liner that was snagged by the Ranger first baseman to end the inning.
 
After robbing Freeman, Paige welcomed John Rains with his second home run of the game on a would-be fly out to center if not for the strong winds blowing out.
 
White and Michael Conn hit back-to-back one-out home runs in the ninth and Connor Bell singled to put the tying run aboard. Fehr moved the pinch runner Cade Gonzalez to second but Blaze Brothers struck out swinging after a questionable strike call on what served as a pitch out.
 
Lee Callison got the start throwing 3.2 innings and allowed four runs. Cohen Bell was handed the loss as he allowed three runs in 1.2 innings of work. Ryan Summers pitched 2.1 frames allowing three runs himself. NWOSU used seven pitchers in the game.
 
The 19 hits were the most for the RiverHawks this season and the 11-10 decision was the third in nonconference play.
 
The Rangers met the RiverHawks with hot bats and have now won nine-straight and boast a 15-8 overall record.
 
Northeastern State (16-7, 13-5 in MIAA) looks to win its seventh-straight MIAA series with three games against Rogers State this weekend. The series will open in Tahlequah Friday at 2 p.m. before shifting to Claremore for a doubleheader Saturday.