MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Northeastern State hit a pair of home runs, but six unanswered runs in the middle innings from No. 17 Henderson State handed the RiverHawks an 11-6 setback Thursday in the opening round of the NCAA Central Regional.
Brayden Rodden hit a solo homer in the sixth, and
Dylan Hight tied the game at 5-5 with a single to bring the momentum NSU's way.
The Reddies (39-15) opened the bottom half of the inning with a six-pitch walk, leading to a three-run homer that would break NSU's day. Henderson State added its fourth run on a wild pitch, and they added two more insurance runs in the seventh to take an 11-5 lead.
Tucker Dunlap scored the RiverHawks' sixth run on a sac fly to make up the rest of NSU's offense for the day.
Collin Klingensmith hit a homer in the second, and
C.D. White returned to the field for the first time in three weeks and came in the ninth with a pinch-hit single to right.
Brock Reller pushed his hitting streak to 13 games and had an RBI.
Northeastern State (37-17) used six pitchers, with
Jonathan Smithey striking out eight in four innings;
Cohen Bell (4-1) was charged with the loss.
The RiverHawks will play an elimination game on Friday at 2 p.m.
