TAHLEQUAH – After a 3-1 weekend in its first true road contests of the season Northeastern State softball travels just past the northern border to play Missouri Southern and Pitt State.

THE LEAD OFF

1. The RiverHawks are 19-11 on the season and 7-5 in conference play.
2. There are five batters hitting over .315 for the RiverHawks. Rhomie Bradshaw leads the group batting .391 with 18 extra base hits. Alyssia Crick leads the run scoring effort with 10 home runs to go with 30 RBI and is third in the conference with a .865 slugging percentage. She and Addy Wolfe get on base at the 12th and 13th best clips in the MIAA.
3. NSU leads the conference with 39 long balls which is fourth nationally and also is fourth nationally in doubles (55).
4. The first baseman/left fielder Bradshaw is second in the MIAA with 14 stolen bases.
5. Gail Young (13-4) has thrown 27.0 more innings than any other conference pitcher and her 13 complete games is the second-most nationally. She has 58 wins in her career, two off of Kayce Wooldridge (2013-16), who holds NSU's NCAA era mark for wins by a starting pitcher. 
6. NSU's top pitchers, Young and Jenna Chassie, combined have a 2.99 ERA.
7. Fans will be allowed and are asked to socially distance the best they can at both schools.

LAST WEEKEND RECAP

• NSU split its series with Central Missouri and swept Lincoln last weekend.
• The RiverHawks hit six home runs across the four days.
• Crick reached at a robust .692 clip and hit two homers in a six RBI win over the Jennies top open the first true road trip of the season.

ABOUT THE FOES
Missouri Southern 15-11 (6-4 in MIAA) – Friday April 9 2/4 p.m.

• MOSO holds a 37-22 series advantage but NSU has won the last three including a 2019 sweep in Joplin.
• The Lions have won seven of their last eight and are playing at home for the first time in two weeks.
• There are five players hitting over .300. As a team Missouri Southern hits .285 which is sixth-best in the MIAA.
• The Lions lead the conference in stolen bases with 51. RiverHawks catcher, Crick, throws out 27 percent of would be base stealers.
• The Lions staff is led by Abby Atkin with a 2.40 ERA. It is eighth in the conference. The four-pitcher staff has a 3.20 combined ERA and allow opposing batters to hit .278.

Pitt State 12-18 (6-6 in MIAA) – Saturday April 10 12/2 p.m.

• The Gorillas are coming off a 4-2 weekend in which they swept Nebraska Kearney on the road Saturday.
• Since 2010, PSU has holds a 12-9 advantage and have won the last four in Pittsburg.
• Four batters are hitting over .299. The Gorillas hit .263 as a team.
• The five-pitcher staff has a 4.65 combined ERA and is led by Kaylee Burns with a 3.23 mark.

UP NEXT: NSU returns to RiverHawks Park to host No. 21 Rogers State on Saturday, April 17, starting at 12 p.m.