TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State built an early three-run cushion and held Central Missouri scoreless through five innings, but the Mules erupted for five runs in the ninth to hand the RiverHawks a 6-3 setback Saturday afternoon.

NSU (4-7, 0-2 MIAA) carried a 3-1 lead into the final frame before Central Missouri (10-2, 2-0 MIAA) strung together four hits and took advantage of two pitching changes to flip the script.

The RiverHawks jumped ahead in the first without the benefit of a hit. Xavier Sanchez walked and stole second before eventually scoring on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, Thomas Chamblee drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0.

NSU added to its lead in the second when Chase Hamilton singled and came home on Jaxon Gregory's RBI single to left, pushing the advantage to 3-0.

On the mound, Thomas Brownfield gave the RiverHawks a strong start, allowing one run on two hits over 5 1/3 innings with three walks and two strikeouts. Relievers Jackson Hill and Hudson Birch combined to keep the Mules in check through the eighth as NSU maintained a 3-1 lead heading to the ninth.

Central Missouri broke through in the sixth on a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 3-1, but NSU's bullpen preserved the margin into the final inning.

In the ninth, the Mules capitalized with a leadoff single and a hit batter before a series of RBI singles tied the game at 3-3. A two-run single gave Central Missouri its first lead of the day at 5-3, and the Mules tacked on another run with a bases-loaded walk to account for the final margin.

Sanchez and Hamilton each collected a hit and scored a run for NSU, while Gregory drove in a run. The RiverHawks drew five walks and were hit by three pitches, but stranded nine runners.

The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. in Tahlequah.