TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State split a pair of one-run games Friday as they saw a ten game skid snapped at RiverHawks Park. NSU got a walk-off 2-1 victory in the opener and Lincoln (MO) hit a homer in the ninth to take the nightcap 7-6.
In game one, it would take until the seventh inning when
Macie Sawney hit a one-out single up the middle to produce the game-winning run for the RiverHawks. Sawney advanced to second on heads-up base running to get to second for
Brynn Burchfield who hit a single to center. An errant throw from center to home plate allowed Sawney to score the game-winning run.
Burchfield had two of NSU's seven hits with
Madison Heinle (6-12) tossing her third shutout of the season and striking out four batters. The Blue Tigers (10-21, 2-10 MIAA) were limited to four hits and left seven runners on base.
The RiverHawks had to dig themselves out of a four run deficit in the nightcap with the Blue Tigers scoring three runs in the second and adding one more in the following inning. Northeastern State cut the lead in half on a Sawney triple left field in the fourth before Lincoln extended the lead back out to four again in the following frame.
Emily Sampson pulled the RiverHawks within one of the Blue Tigers with a three-run blast in the bottom of the fifth for her second homer of the year. NSU trailed until their final out of the seventh where an infield error allowed the tying run to cross home to force extras.
The game remained locked up at 6-6 until the ninth with Lincoln hitting a lead-off homer.
Maddie Messenger had three of NSU's eight hits.
Korynn Tindel started the game and went five innings, Heinle tossed four and was charged with the loss.
The split moves the RiverHawks to 6-23 (1-11 MIAA) they will host Central Missouri on Saturday for a noon doubleheader.
