ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Northeastern State saw another eventful showing from their bats, with 17 base hits in an 18-11 win over Missouri Western at Griffon Baseball Field Friday night.
After neither side found a run in the opening two frames, the RiverHawks (9-5, 1-0 MIAA) flipped the contest on its head, scoring 11 unanswered in the third and fourth to put the hosts in a devastating deficit.
The Griffons (7-4, 0-1 MIAA) responded with seven runs in the bottom half of the fourth to make the game manageable again. However, NSU would return to the scoreboard in the next two innings, with a run making it home in the fifth and three more in the sixth, while Western could only respond with a single run the rest of the night. Three more ended the contest a half-inning early in the top half of the ninth.
Tyson Fourkiller was a top contributor from the leadoff spot, with four base hits in five at-bats. The junior was one of five NSU players to bring in multiple runs, led by
Isaiah Keller with three.
Drew Miller provided the team's lone home run, with a two-run drive in the third.
C.J. Briley picked up the victory on the mound, with five innings tossed and five strikeouts across that span of time.
Kyle Duffey was the only other arm to see work, going the rest of the way after Briley and preserving the large NSU lead.
Northeastern State plays the second game of the conference-opening series tomorrow at 2 p.m.
