CLAREMORE – Northeastern State bashed a season-high six homers and thrashed Rogers State 18-5 as the mercy rule was applied in seven innings Sunday. The RiverHawks clinched the series win over the Hillcats as NSU improved to 18-21 (12-15 MIAA).
Brayden Rodden homered twice and has had a ball clear the fence six times in the previous six games. The senior had three RBI on the day and was 9-for-14 at the plate against the Hillcats this past weekend.
The RiverHawks plated a pair in the opening frame and had to play the near entirety of the game using the bullpen after
Seth Stacey was removed from the after making the opening pitch.
NSU's offense kept the gas pedal down and added three more runs in the second, getting one on
Isaiah Keller's sac fly, and Rodden hit a two-run homer.
Rogers State (23-17, 11-16 MIAA) did have a window cracked open early and made it a 6-5 ballgame after three innings. However, it was all RiverHawks the rest of the way.
Northeastern State sent 13 batters to the plate in the fourth and plated nine runs on seven hits. Rodden and
C.D. White hit back-to-back bombs to open the frame;
Ty Van Meter also homered in the never-ending inning for RSU.
Brady Evans homered in the fifth, and
Blake Freeman capped a 4-for-4 day at the plate with a home run in the sixth.
The RiverHawks had 17 hits, with
Kademon Graff and Van Meter having three base knocks.
Paxton Bryan (1-0) went 4.2 innings and earned the win in his third appearance of the season.
Logan Stewart had two scoreless frames in his 12th appearance.
Northeastern State travels next to Alva Tuesday for a non-conference tilt at Northwestern Oklahoma.
