TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State rallied late but fell short in an 8-7 loss to Maryville Friday afternoon. 

The RiverHawks (3-1) relied on the long ball early, with Chloe Bohuslavicky hitting a two-run shot in the opening frame.  Raegan Edwards blasted a solo homer in the third to left field to give NSU a 3-0 lead.  

Maryville (1-1) did their damage with two outs in the fourth with a walk and back-to-back hits.  A fly ball that would pop out of an NSU glove would score all three runners to tie the game. 

The Saints added to their lead in the fifth, scoring two on a single to left field. 

Jaeden Rosenquist and Vic Leslie responded for NSU with an RBI in the sixth.  The RiverHawks should have gotten the go-ahead run off a Maryville wild pitch, but runners interference would be called on NSU when the throw hit Bohuslavicky, who was standing outside the batters' box. 

With the game tied a 5-5, Maryville once again struck with two outs, and with two on, they hit a three-run homer which would be enough to hold off NSU.

NSU would load the bases in the seventh, and Carly Kelley hit a sac fly to plate one run.  Rosenquist got her fourth hit of the game scoring Sydney Balderrama in from second.  With the tying run a second, NSU ended the game on a ground out to short. 

The RiverHawks out-hit Maryville 11-to-9, Gail Young (2-1) struck out five batters, with five earned runs given up. 

Northeastern State returns to the field Saturday to face Qunicy and Arkansas-Monticello at 1 p.m.