EMPORIA, Kan. -- Northeastern State opened the MIAA Softball Tournament with a 7-4 win over Northwest Missouri.
Earning the win as the tournament's seventh seed, it marked NSU's first victory in a conference tournament opener since 2014. It is the program's first conference postseason win overall since 2019.
The offensive fireworks began in the first inning, as the tenth-seeded Bearcats (31-20) lifted a two-run homer into left center to take the early lead. NSU (29-22) countered with a four-run outburst in the inning, taking the lead on a two-RBI double by
Halle Hance.
After a brief answer from the Bearcats in the form of an RBI single in the top of the second, the RiverHawks added three more runs in the third inning, highlighted by a two-RBI triple to right center from
Ashlynn Turner.
Only one run was scored over the final four innings, as the Bearcats cut the deficit to three in the top of the seventh.
Brooke Wyatt entered the circle to record the final out and earn the save, with the potential tying run at the plate for Northwest Missouri.
Eight starters logged a hit in the win, including two from Hance.
Jensyn Elder started and tossed four innings to earn her 13th win of the campaign.
Head softball coach
Cassidy Bowen praised the team's preparation after the win.
"We have been spending a lot of time preparing and walking through every situation that we expected to see," Bowen said. "It felt like a walkthrough today because of how we prepared."
NSU continues play tomorrow with a quarterfinal round matchup against No. 2 seed Central Oklahoma at 6:30 p.m.
