RiverHawks Earn Split With No. 9-Ranked Abilene Christian
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- Northeastern State rallied from a 6-0 deficit in the second game of a doubleheader to defeat 9th-ranked Abilene Christian 9-8 in a Lone Star Conference clash Saturday afternoon at Rousey Field.
The win snapped a five game losing streak for the RiverHawks, who lost the opener to the Wildcats 7-1. Northeastern State is now 15-22 for the season and improves to 13-17 in the Lone Star Conference. The league leading Wildcats are now 30-8 and 19-7.
The two clubs will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday at Rousey Field.
The RiverHawks trailed 8-5 entering the 8th inning of the second game when NSU exploded for four runs to get the victory.
The four-run explosion came with two outs in the inning. David Zavala began the rally with a double. Chris Gallegos, who went 3-for-4 at the plate, blasted a two-run homer, slicing the Wildcats lead to 8-7.
Chris Replogle was then issued a walk from Matt James. James was then relieved by Brad Rutherford. Demetrius Terronez pinch hitting for Brandon Espinal, hit Rutherford’s first pitch over the left field wall to put the RiverHawks on top 9-8.
In the ninth Frank Sprick came in to pitch for the RiverHawks in relief of Michael Houser. Sprick picked up his second save of the year hold the Wildcats to just one base runner in the ninth to preserve the NSU win.
Abilene Christian took a 1-0 lead in the first and added 5 more in the third for a 6-0 lead before the RiverHawks scored two in its half of the third on an Eric McKinney home run and a Noah Ringenberger solo homer.
The Wildcats scored a single run in the sixth for an 8-3 advantage; however, the RiverHawks added two more in its half of the sixth. NSU scored on a RBI single by Zavala, scoring Chad Davidson. Gallegos then knocked home Greg Jackson with a single cutting the Wildcats’ lead to 8-5 before the RiverHawks 8th inning explosion.
The RiverHawks pounded out 17 base hits against four Abilene pitchers.
The opener was all Abilene as the Wildcats scored one in the second and four more in the third before the RiverHawks scored its only run of the game in the fourth inning.
Jackson singled to right center field and Ringenberger double putting runners at second and third. Angel Hernandez then lofted a sacrifice fly in foul territory to score Jackson from third base.
Abilene added two more runs in the fifth inning for the 7-1 final.
NORTHEASTERN STATE 1-9, ABILENE CHRISTIAN 7-8
First game
Abilene Christian 014 020 09 -7 9 3
Northeastern State 000 100 0 – 1 4 0
Aspass and Tomkins; Patterson, Krebs (6), Hibdon (6) and C. Sprick. W: Aspass (5-2) L: Patterson (4-4). HR: Bochsler 2 (8), Watten (2).
Second game
Abilene Christian 105 101 000 – 8 9 0
Northeastern State 002 102 04x – 9 17 2
Sneed, Justice(6), James (7), Rutherford (7) and Williams; White, Travis (4), Houser (7), F. Sprick (9). W: Houser (2-2). L: Rutherford (1-2) S—F. Sprick (2). HR: Latz (6) Bankston (2), McKinney (7), Ringenberger (1), Gallegos (7), GTerronez (2).
