Sweet Softball Sweep

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. --- Shaelyn Moore belted two homers and was five-for-seven at the plate to lead Northeastern State to a sweep over East Central, 4-1 and 11-2, in Lone Star North action Wednesday afternoon.

The RiverHawks improved to 8-20 overall, 3-7 in league play and ended a six-game LSC losing streak. ECU fell to 8-13 and 1-9.

Northeastern State had managed just one round-tripper all season until Moore, a senior from Sapulpa, broke the ice in a big way. With her team trailing 1-0, Moore led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to center field to briefly tie the game. Tahlequah freshman Shelbi Bowin gave the RiverHawks the lead for good with a homer of her own in the next at-bat with a similar shot for a 2-1 lead.

Moore added two more RBI in the fifth with her second blast of the game to put Northeastern State ahead, 4-1. That's all starting pitcher Kylee McKinney needed as she cruised to her second win of the year with a complete game five-hitter.

In the nightcap Northeastern State exploded to an 8-1 lead with four runs in the first and four more in the second. In the first, Erica Holly singled home a run, Kaylee Moody's double drove in two and Holly scored on a wild pitch. The second was just as productive when Moore singled in a runner and Holly belted a three-run home run.

The Tigers staged a threat in the top of the fifth when the first three hitters reached safely to load the bases off RiverHawks' pitcher Lacee Craig. Making her first appearance in several weeks due to injury, Craig walked home a runner, then struck out the next ECU hitter and recorded got back-to-back groudouts to end the inning with very little damage.

Bowin shortened the game in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run double. Amy Mills led off the frame with a double and moved to third on Brandy Kimberlin's sacrifice bunt. Megan Heskett's squeeze bunt scored Mills and Moore singled through the left side for her fifth hit of the day. Bowin then delivered the knockout blow with a drive to left center to put the RiverHawks in front, 11-2, which initiated the "mercy rule."

Craig evened her record in the circle at 1-1 with five strikeouts and one walk. Only one of her two runs was earned.

Northeastern State will travel to Ada on Saturday to face East Central in the second game of the series. Game time is slated for 2 p.m.