RiverHawks Earn Road Wins Over Bearcats

The Northeastern State baseball team collected two victories on the road over Southwest Baptist today at Dodson Field.

The RiverHawks (8-7, 8-7 MIAA) won the first game 6-1 and followed that up with an 8-3 triumph in the second game over the Bearcats (5-6, 5-6 MIAA).

Senior Craig George and sophomore Kyle Shambaugh both earned wins on the mound, while junior Cody Robinson and sophomore Preston Cash both blasted home runs.

Northeastern State and Southwest Baptist will complete the series at 1 p.m. March 9.

NSU 6, SBU 1

The RiverHawks used a four-run fourth and a complete-game effort from George to secure their first series-opening win of the year.

Sophomore David Weber walked to open the game, and NSU used two outs to move him over to third base. SBU pitcher Justin Pasichnyk balked to bring Weber home, and the road team took the early lead.

Southwest Baptist opened the second inning with a Spencer Blacksher home run, but the Bearcats would not get on the board again.

The fourth inning broke the game open for the RiverHawks. Following a groundout by senior Kegan Knight, Robinson singled up the middle. He scored on a double from senior Trent Wilkins, who would later score on a single from Cash. Sophomore Tyler Wilkins capped the frame with a single that brought home both freshman Andrew Walker and Cash.

Senior Chad Davidson added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, and NSU would secure the victory.

Cash led Northeastern State with two hits, and both teams belted eight hits in the series opener. Trent Wilkins drove home two runs, and six different RiverHawks scored.

George (3-1) threw his second complete game of the season. He only allowed one run off eight hits. He also struck out three and walked one.

Landon Young went 2-for-3 for the Bearcats, and Pasichnyk (1-1) took the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits in 6.0 innings. Jacob Sullinger tossed the final frame and gave up one run on two hits.

NSU 8, SBU 3

Northeastern State was on top 2-0 before SBU got a chance to respond. Knight hit a two-out single down the right-field line in the top of the first and was brought home by Robinson's ninth home run of the season.

Weber tripled to kick off the third inning, and he scored on a sacrifice bunt by Knight.

Southwest Baptist plated two unearned runs in the third to get within one, but NSU held the Bearcats at bay after scoring four two-out runs in the seventh.

Davidson recorded an infield single, and he was brought home by an infield error. Robinson scored on a double from Trent Wilkins, who later touched home after Cash blasted his second-career home run and first of the season.

NSU took a 7-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh, and the two teams exchanged runs over the course of the next inning to bring the final score to 8-3.

The RiverHawks outhit the Bearcats 9-8 and were led by Cash's 2-for-2, two-RBI performance. Davidson also tallied two hits, and Robinson scored twice and drove home two.

Shambaugh (1-1) picked up his first win as a member of Northeastern State after recording a quality start. He lasted 6.0 innings and only allowed four hits and two unearned runs.

Sophomore T.J. Foster, junior Addison Williams, Walker, and senior Frank Sprick combined to throw the final three frames. They allowed a collective four hits and one run.

Drew Miller and Kyle Jochems paced SBU with two hits each.

Zack Winchester (1-2) was tagged for seven runs (three earned) and eight hits in the loss. He struck out eight and walked three. Ryan Harralston and Sullinger threw the final 2.1 frames.