TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State knocked off Missouri Western in the late game of their first home conference doubleheader to bring Friday's action to an even split on decisions.

The RiverHawks (17-10, 4-2 MIAA) fell in the early game before triumphing in the finale over the Griffons (21-6, 2-2 MIAA). In game one, a Madison Nance two-run blast in the third inning was countered by six runs from the visitors across the fifth and sixth innings. NSU found a single score in response, an RBI single from Mia Sarwinski, allowing the Griffons to clinch the initial win.

Game two saw NSU dominate the box score with 11 of the contest's 15 hits, while a run of six unanswered across the second and third innings would be a complete answer to MoWest's three-run performance in the opening inning. The Griffons would knot the game back at six runs each with three more scores in the fourth. After a scoreless frame from both sides in the fifth, Madison Nance blew the game wide open in NSU's favor with her second home run of the day and her sixth of the season, a three-run shot that marked the last runs scored for the evening.

Nance would finish the doubleheader with six RBI, while Halle Hance led the RiverHawks on base hits with four. Aubree Saporito received a winning credit in game two, while Jensyn Elder shut down the side in the seventh inning to earn her first save of the season.

The Griffons are the third opponent that the RiverHawks have defeated in as many conference doubleheaders, while the 4-2 start is the team's best six-game opening to MIAA action since 2020.

The homestand continues with a doubleheader tomorrow against Northwest Missouri, starting at noon.