TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State couldn't come from behind for the second consecutive day as they dropped a 9-6 result Saturday afternoon to Newman. 

The RiverHawks (20-25, 14-18 MIAA) dug themselves into a seven-run deficit before scoring five unanswered runs in the final three innings. 

The MIAA standings are becoming clearer, with one game remaining to play.  The RiverHawks will be next weekend's tournament six or seven seed.  Sunday's winner between NSU and Newman (22-27, 14-18 MIAA) will decide those two spots. 

For the second game in a row, Newman hit a long ball in the opening frame, scoring two on a two-out blast to right field.  In the bottom half of the inning, Isaiah Keller leadoff with his 12th homer of the season, cutting the deficit in half. 

After a scoreless inning, a failed pickoff attempt by the RiverHawks moved a Jets runner to third, and they pushed a run across, retaking a two-run lead.  Newman extended their lead further in the fourth to 4-1, scoring on a sac fly to right field; the RiverHawks escaped a bases-loaded jam in the threat.  C.D. White matched the Newman run in the bottom half of the inning hitting a homer for the second connective day to make it a 4-2 game. 

The floodgates opened in the sixth with the Jets sending ten batters to the plate and scoring five runs.

White had his second extra-base hit of the game in the seventh, scoring Brayden Rodden on a double to deep center field.  NSU continued to push Newman late, and Coby Tweten hit his seventh homer of the season to get them within three in the ninth.   A pair of singles put the tying run at home, but the RiverHawks would run empty on outs with the game ending on a fielder's choice. 

Grant Parr, Alex Khan, and Kyle Duffey all had scoreless outings in relief.  CJ Briley (3-2) was charged with the loss after throwing a season-high 121 pitches. 

The RiverHawks and Jets close out the series Sunday at 1 p.m.