EMPORIA, Kan. — Northeastern State’s Sierra Crick collected three hits and Jess Schuler belted her third home run of the year in a 4-1 victory over Sioux Falls on the first day of the ESU Classic at the Trulser Sports Complex here Thursday.
The RiverHawks improve to 17-12 on the year.
Gail Young picked up her 11th victory of the year, allowing five hits while striking out six.
After being held to one hit earlier in the day, seven different RiverHawks recorded hits, out hitting the Cougars 9-5.
Haley Acrey and Sierra Crick set up the RiverHawks first run of the game. Back-to-back hits to open the second inning, Cameron Conrad’s sacrifice fly to center field plated Acrey for a 1-0 NSU lead.
Sioux Falls rallied in the third inning to tie the game until Schuler’s two-run bomb in the third inning gave NSU a 3-1 lead that it would not relinquish.
The RiverHawks extend the lead in the fourth inning; Cameron Conrad singled and scored on Madison Boyd double for a 4-1 lead.
Young closed out the Cougars over the final three innings to improve to 11-4.
Northeastern State will return day two of the ESU Classic with contests against Upper Iowa at 10:00 am and Wayne State at 12:30 pm.