TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma – The Northeastern State University RiverHawk baseball team used a five-run seventh inning rally to post a 7-3 triumph over the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats in game one of a doubleheader Saturday.
 
Bearcat starter Spencer Hanson continued to deal in his second start of the season on the mound. Hansen went five innings and allowed two hits and two runs, while striking out four. However, the Bearcat bullpen could not protect the lead and Hanson had to settle for a no decision.
 
Northwest junior Peter Carlson connected in his fourth home run of the season – a two-run shot to left center in the second to open up the game's scoring.
 
Hanson kept the RiverHawks hitless until the fourth. In the bottom half of the fourth, NSU strung together a double, a walk and a double to even the score at 2-2.
 
Northwest answered in the top of the fifth to retake the lead at 3-2. Junior Jacob Pinkerton doubled with one out and sophomore Brett Holden drew a walk to bring senior Connor Quick to the plate. Quick promptly doubled down the left field line to score Pinkerton.
 
Bearcat freshman Phil Brenneman took over the pitching duties in the sixth and worked around a one-out walk. Brenneman induced a pitcher's best friend – a ground ball double play to shortstop to end the RiverHawks's scoring threat.
 
Northwest skipper Darin Loe turned to junior Blaine Hanf with a runner on second and nobody out in the bottom of the seventh. Hanf allowed another walk but got a popout and he gave way to redshirt freshman Tanner Smith.
 
Smith was greeted with a two-run RBI double by NSU's Blaze Brothers to put the RiverHawks on top, 4-3. NSU's Brayden Rodden followed with an RBI single to score Brothers and push the RiverHawks's lead to 5-3. NSU's Collin Klingensmith singled with the bases loaded to add another tally. After an intentional walk, NSU's C.D. White single through the left side for another RBI that gave NSU a 7-3 advantage. Smith exited having faced six batters and allowing four hits and two walks.
 
Bearcat sophomore Brandin Hallier was summoned to the contest with the bases loaded and one out. Hallier put a halt to the NSU attack with an inning-ending ground double play to Holden at third.
 
Northwest could not mount a comeback in the eighth or ninth and NSU was able to score the 7-3 victory.
 
NOTES: Peter Carlson's homer was the 14th of his Bearcat career … Carlson also hit a home run as a freshman at Nebraska-Kearney to give him 15 collegiate home runs … Carlson's four home runs this season ranks him No. 2 in the MIAA in homers in 2021 … Connor Quick collected his sixth career stolen base in the first inning … Quick collected his 37th career multi-hit game … Ryan Koski has had at least two hits in all five games this season … Koski has posted nine career multi-hit games … Hanson has pitched 10 innings this season and has allowed only three hits and three runs with 14 strikeouts.