RiverHawks Split With Lopers

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. --- Northeastern State pounded out 15 hits and took the final game of the series against Nebraska-Kearney Sunday afternoon with a 15-7 decision over the Lopers. UNK won the opener 7-6 by staving off a fierce RiverHawk Rally and ended the series by winning three of the four games.

Noah Ringenberger collected three hits in three at-bats for Northeastern State (1-3) before being lifted in the fourth inning. The freshman was 1-for-3 in the first game as a designated hitter, but ended up tossing 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for starter Shay Colburn. Ringenberger scattered four hits without a run.

The nightcap featured an offensive onslaught as head coach Sergio Espinal elected to change his bulk of his starting lineup. The team responded quickly by putting up eight runs on seven hits in the first frame to take an insurmountable 8-0 lead. Northeastern State went on to score at least one run in every inning except the sixth. The game was halted after six full innings because of darkness.

Andrew White picked up the victory with five innings of work. The junior surrendered five hits and four runs, all earned, and fanned seven before leaving in the top of the sixth. Brandon Compton gave up three unearned runs in the top of the frame and Jason Travis closed out the game on the mound by facing three UNK hitters and struck out Duell Higbe to end the game. Eric McKinney, Kyle Bayles and Brandon Espinal collected two hits apiece for the RiverHawks in the rout.

The opener saw the Lopers (3-1) come back from a 1-0 deficit with two runs in the third and five in the fourth to lead 7-1.

However, the RiverHawks rallied with three runs in the sixth to pull to within 7-4. McKinney led off with a single up the middle and moved to second on a groundout by Angel Hernandez. Chris Gallegos's belted an RBI single to right field and Taylor Clark's double put runners at second and third with one out. Chris Sprick's sacrifice fly to right field scored Gallegos and Brandon Espinal reached on a a throwing error to score Clark. But, the inning ended when Chad Davidson flied out to center.

After Nebraska-Kearney was held without a run in the seventh, Gallegos picked up two more RBI with a single to center with two outs to bring the RiverHawks make it a one run game, 7-6. But the comeback bid was shut down as UNK pitcher Austin Parker got a strikeout to end the game.

Gallegos and McKinney had a pair of hits each in the first game.

Northeastern State is slated to play Pittsburg State on Tuesday, weather permitting, in a single 9-inning game at Rousey Field and will open Lone Star Conference action this weekend at Tarleton State.

Nebraska-Kearney 7-7, Northeastern State 6-15

Nebraska-Kearney 7, Northeastern St (OK) 6 (Game 1)
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Nebraska-Kearney.... 002 500 0 -  7 10  2      (3-0)
Northeastern St (OK) 100 003 2 -  6   8  2      (0-3)
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Nebraska-Kearney - Todd Stachura; Austin Parker (7) and Chandler Klute, Felix Segovia (7); Northeastern St (OK) - Shay Colburn; Noah Ringenberger(4) and Demetrius Terronez, Chris Sprick (5). Win-Todd Stachura (1-0) Loss-Shay Colburn (0-1)

Northeastern St (OK) 15, Nebraska-Kearney 7 (Game 2)
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Nebraska-Kearney.... 020 023  -   7   9  2      (3-1)
Northeastern St (OK) 811 230  - 15 15  2      (1-3)
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Nebraska-Kearney - Roy Metter; Jake Kresse (2); Mike Nowak (4); Nick Hall (5) and Felix Sergovia; Northeastern St (OK) - Andrew White; Brandon Compton (6); Jason Travis (6) and Chris Sprick. Win-Andrew White (1-0)  Loss-Roy Metter (0-1)