TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — A 15-hit offensive eruption helped Northeastern State run past Upper Iowa, 18-8, in a game shortened to eight innings by the mercy rule Saturday afternoon at Rousey Field.
Alex Nirider led the RiverHawks' onslaught, going 4-for-5 with five RBI and two doubles, while
Jackson Dillingham crushed a grand slam in the first inning and finished with four RBI and three runs scored. NSU (2-1) scored in five different innings and erased an early 4-0 deficit with a six-run bottom of the first.
Upper Iowa (0-2) jumped ahead early behind a two-run double from Thane Meiners and a two-RBI single by Hunter Jones. But Northeastern State responded immediately. After loading the bases, Dillingham unloaded them with a towering shot to left field that gave NSU a lead it never relinquished.
The RiverHawks added three more in the third, then broke things wide open in the fourth with a six-run frame.
Carson Miller launched a two-run homer, and Nirider delivered a two-RBI single to stretch the lead to 15-6.
Jackson Hill (1-0) picked up the win in relief, working 1.1 scoreless innings.
Ray Wei earned his first save with three solid frames, striking out four.
NSU's offense kept the pressure on with five stolen bases and nine walks.
Klete Finley tallied three hits and a triple, and
Jaxon Gregory added two doubles and two RBI. The game was halted in the bottom of the eighth after Nirider's RBI double capped the scoring and invoked the mercy rule.
The three-game set concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. at Rousey Field.
