RiverHawks Split With Texas A&M-Kingsville
KINGSVILLE, Texas -- Northeastern State won the second game of a doubleheader to gain a split with Texas A&M-Kingsville Friday at Nolan Ryan Field in Kingsville.
The RiverHawks lost the opener 6-2 but came back to win the night cap 6-4 to remain tied with the Javelinas and Angelo State for sixth place in the Lone Star Conference. The top six teams in the LSC advance to the conference tournament.
Northeastern State and Kingsville have identical 11-11 marks in the LSC. The RiverHawks are 13-15 for the season. Kingsville is 15-13 overall.
In the second game the Javelinas took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, before the RiverHawks struck for single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
Chris Gallegos’ sacrifice fly to right field scored Noah Ringenberger, who had reached on a walk, moved to second on a passed ball and to third on a wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1. NSU took the lead in the fifth when Chris Sprick hit a solo homer over the left center field wall. It was Sprick’s fourth homer of the season.
Kingsville tied the game at 2-2 in its half of the inning, but the RiverHawks regained the lead in the sixth when Gallegos singled home Eric McKinney for a 3-2 NSU lead. McKinney had reached safely on a fielder’s choice bunt.
The Javelinas took a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning, before Northeastern tied the game 4-4 in the eighth inning on Angel Hernandez ‘RBI single to center field, scoring Ringenberger, who had singled.
The RiverHawks scored two runs in the ninth on a two-run RBI single by Ringenberger to left field, who scored Tyler Brewer and Greg Jackson.
Ringenberger and Hernandez led the NSU hitting attack with two hits each. Josh Walker got the win for the RiverHawks in relief, his second win of the season. Walker relieved starter Andrew White in the seventh inning. Jason Travis pitched the ninth inning to get the save for the RiverHawks.
In the opener the Javelinas jumped out to a 4-1 lead after four innings and added two runs in the fifth and sixth innings for a 5-1 lead. NSU scored a single run in the sixth for the 6-2 final.
Hernandez ‘single in the fourth scored scored McKinney, who opened the inning with a base hit. In the sixth Gallegos homered to left field, his fifth of the season. McKinney was 2-for-3 at the plate for the RiverHawks.
The RiverHawks and Javelinas will play a doubleheader on Saturday.
NORTHEASTERN STATE 2-6, TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE 6-4
First Game
Northeastern State 000 101 0 –2 5 0
Texas A&M-Kingsville 011 211 x – 6 10 0
Patterson, F. Sprick (5) and C Sprick. De Lelon and Barker. W: De Leon (5-1). L: Patterson (4-3). HR: Gallegos (5); Diaz (2).
Second Game
Northeastern State 000 111 012 – 6 6 2
Texas A&M-Kingsville 100 010 200 – 4 12 4
White, Krebs (7), Walker (7), Travis (9) and C. Sprick. Cox, Taska (7), Stephens (9) and Barker. W: Walker (2-2). L: Taska (0-4). S: Travis (3). HR: C. Sprick (4).
