JOPLIN, Mo. -- Northeastern State dropped the second game of a Friday doubleheader, getting held off the scoreboard until the seventh inning in a 7-2 loss to Missouri Southern.

The RiverHawks (20-15, 7-7 MIAA) struck out nine times in the loss. The Lions (33-5, 8-2 MIAA) scored the game's first seven runs, including five in the third inning. Mia Sarwinski had two of NSU's three hits entering the seventh, which saw Peyton Watson record a triple before being brought across the plate by an Annsleigh Morris home run.

In the circle, Aubree Saporito went 2.1 innings in a starting spot, leaving the game amid MSSU's scoring run in the third. Gracie Turner struck out two in relief, while Brooke Wyatt pitched in the sixth inning and did not take an earned run of damage.

Northeastern State plays in a conference midweek doubleheader against Central Missouri in Warrensburg, beginning with game one at 12 p.m.