EMPORIA, Kan. -- Northeastern State used a big sixth inning to pull away and defeat Emporia State 6-2 on Saturday afternoon in MIAA softball action in Emporia, Kansas.

The RiverHawks improved to 16-8 overall, and 3-0 in MIAA play with the victory.

Northeastern State struck first in the opening inning when Emily Carpenter walked, stole second, and eventually scored on an Emporia State throwing error to give NSU a 1-0 lead. Emporia State answered in the second inning, capitalizing on a RiverHawk error to even the score at 1-1.

NSU regained the lead in the fourth when Peyton Watson doubled to left field, driving in Annsleigh Morris to make it 2-1. Emporia State tied the game again in the fifth on an RBI triple by Brooke Flewelling.

The RiverHawks broke the game open in the sixth inning, scoring three runs on four doubles. Mattison Hamilton started the rally with a double before Madison Nance drove her in with another double to give NSU a 3-2 lead. Annsleigh Morris followed with an RBI double, and Ashlynn Turner added a run-scoring double down the left field line to extend the advantage to 5-2.

Hamilton added an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI double.

Jensyn Elder earned the complete-game victory for Northeastern State, allowing two runs—one earned—on nine hits while striking out one.