RiverHawks Fall Twice in LSC Crossover Tournament
DURANT, Okla. -- Northeastern State fell twice in Lone Star Conference Crossover Tournament play Sunday afternoon at the Durant Multi-Sports Complex, losing to Texas Woman’s University 9-4 and Abilene Christian 8-4.
In a late game Saturday Northeastern State defeated Eastern New Mexico 15-12 for the third time this season.
Following the three-day tournament the RiverHawks are now 7-23 for the season.
Texas Woman’s jumped out to a 9-0 lead before the RiverHawks got on the scoreboard, scoring four runs in the sixth inning. The Pioneers pounded out three home runs against the RiverHawks.
Northeastern State sliced the Pioneers’ lead to 9-4 in the sixth inning on five base hits. Kylie Morton singled to centerfield scoring Rachel Turner, who pinched ran for Sydney Chapin, who reached safely on a fielder’s choice.
Megan Heskett laced a 2-run RBI single to centerfield scoring Kelsi Hilderbrandt and CaseyMoyer. Lisa Ripperger singled to left field scoring Morton for the final run of the inning.
Against Abilene Christianthe. the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, before the RiverHawks scored two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead.
However, Abilene Christian blew open the game in the top of the sixth, batting around as they scored five runs on six hits for a 6-3 lead.
Abilene Christian then added two more runs to for the 8-4 final.
Eastern New Mexico broke out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning, pounding out five base hits including a homerun by Mayo Otis as Eastern New Mexico sent 11 batters to the plate in Saturday’s game. The RiverHawks responded with two runs in the second inning.
Ashley Rogers scored the first NSU run, on a wild pitch. Rogers had reached base on a walk to begin the inning. Megan Heskett singled home Kelsi Hilderbrandt after Hilderbrandt was issued a walk in the inning.
The Zias added five more runs in the third inning to stretch its lead to 12-2 before the RiverHawks exploded for seven runs in the fourth to slice the Zias lead to 12-9.
Northeastern State sent 12 batters to the plate with Lisa Ripperger hitting a grand slam in the inning. Megan Heskett reached on an error in the fifth as the RiverHawks plated six runs in the inning, taking the lead 15-12 on a Kelsi Hilderbrandt grand slam.
Midwestern State claimed the Lone Star Conference Softball Crossover Tournament title with a perfect 6-0 run during the three-day, 42-game.
The Mustangs finished with a flawless record against their LSC South Division opponents, including an 8-7 win over No. 2 Angelo State and a 6-1 triumph against No. 22 West Texas A&M. MSU (30-4) has won eight straight games and 22 of their last 23 contests.
The South Division squads prevailed in 22 of the games, while the North teams won 20. Central Oklahoma went 5-1 in the tournament.
TEXAS WOMAN’S 9, NORTHEASTERN STATE 4
Texas Woman’s 005 103 0 – 9 11 0
Northeastern State 000 004 0—4 11 0
Williams, Burns (7) and Warren; Coleman and Hilderbrandt. W: Williams (4-0). L: Coleman (5-9). HR: Mandel, Arebalos, Kelley, Readicker.
Late Saturday
NORTHEASTERN STATE 15, EASTERN NEW MEXICO 12
Northeastern State 020 740 0 – 15 13 0
Eastern New Mexico 705 000 0 – 12 14 1
Higgins, Coleman and Hilderbrandt; Crouse, Widner and Anderson. W: Coleman (6-8). L: Crouse (2-10). HR: Ripperger, Hilderbrandt; Otis 2.
CROSSOVER TOURNAMENT STANDINGS
North Division
Overall
Team W L T Pct
Midwestern State.... 6 0 0 1.000
Central Oklahoma.... 5 1 0 .833
East Central........ 3 3 0 .500
Cameron............. 3 3 0 .500
Southeastern Okla... 1 5 0 .167
Southwestern Okla... 1 5 0 .167
Northeastern State.. 1 5 0 .167
South Division
Overall
Team W L T Pct
Texas A&M-Kingsville 4 2 0 .667
West Texas A&M...... 4 2 0 .667
Angelo State........ 4 2 0 .667
Abilene Christian... 3 3 0 .500
Texas Woman's....... 3 3 0 .500
Tarleton State...... 3 3 0 .500
Eastern New Mexico.. 1 5 0 .167
