TAHLEQUAH -- Gage Williams homered, while CJ Briley had a strong start from the hill as Northeastern State claimed a Friday evening win over Newman in a 6-5 final at Thomas C. Rousey Field.

After the teams traded a pair of scoreless stanzas to start the matchup, the Jets (4-22, 0-11 MIAA) found two runs to begin the third inning. The RiverHawks (11-14, 2-9 MIAA) benefited from three Newman errors spanning the third and fourth, while a two-run homer from Williams also provided the hosts with a spark that saw them end the first four innings of play with a 4-2 lead.

The Jets formulated a response in the sixth with two more runs to tie the contest at four apiece. Consecutive scoring innings in the seventh and eighth allowed NSU to retake control with a 6-4 result after eight, with one more run for the visitors proving to not be enough in the ninth to give the RiverHawks their first MIAA win since Feb. 22. 

Briley received a winning credit was a stabilizing presence as the Friday starter this week, throwing 126 pitches across 7.1 frames and striking out seven batters against just two walks and two earned runs. Kyle Duffey received the save after pitching the rest of the way and keeping a winning effort intact. 

Williams provided NSU with their lone RBI of their day, while Drew Miller, C.D. White and Matt Kaiser also recorded base hits.

Northeastern State will look to clinch their first conference series win of 2024 with game two against Newman starting a 3 p.m. tomorrow.  Read Full Article