SEMINOLE, Okla. -- In a wild season opener, Northeastern State fell just short, losing 9-8 to Southeastern Oklahoma State on Tuesday afternoon at the BCM Sports Complex.

The RiverHawks (0-1) erupted for five runs in the second inning and built an 8-2 lead by the middle of the fourth, but the Savage Storm (1-0) stormed back with a four-run sixth inning—highlighted by a grand slam from Carter Olson—to tie the game. Southeastern plated the go-ahead run in the seventh and held off NSU down the stretch.

Newcomer Stephen Osborne led the RiverHawks at the plate, going 4-for-5 with three RBI, including a pair of doubles. Alex Nirider chipped in with two hits and two RBI, while Jaxon Gregory added a two-hit effort. Northeastern State racked up 13 hits but stranded 11 runners on base.

NSU used four pitchers in the contest, with starter Bryce Bond tossing 3.1 innings and allowing three earned runs. Parker Allen, Jackson Hill, and Ashton Durham combined for the final 4.2 innings, with Hill tagged for the loss.

The RiverHawks had their chances late but were silenced by Southeastern reliever Estevan Fonseca, who struck out seven over four scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.

Northeastern State returns home to Tahlequah this weekend to host Upper Iowa in a three-game non-conference series beginning Friday at 1 p.m..