From NSU Sports Info.
Cedrique Flemming, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Northeastern State softball team rocked the 2014 MIAA Championship by winning twiceThursday to advance to the semifinals at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex.
The RiverHawks (28-28), seeded No. 8 in the tournament and needing a 14-13 nine-inning win in the last game of the regular season just to qualify for the postseason, upset top-seeded and No. 13-ranked Emporia State 3-2 in the first round. NSU followed that up by upsetting No. 4 seed Fort Hays State 7-4 in the nightcap.
Northeastern State was a combined 0-4 against ESU and FHSU in the regular season. This also marked the first time in at least 14 years (MIAA record books only go back to 2000) that the No. 8 seed went 2-0 on the first day of competition.
NSU has now won three in a row, which is the first such streak in 23 games. Sophomore Kayce Wooldridge (16-11) picked up both wins for NSU in the circle. She tossed a complete game against the Hornets and entered as a relief pitcher to settle down proceedings against the Tigers.
Northeastern State will now face Missouri Western State University at 3 p.m. May 2 in the semifinals of the tournament. The winner will move on to the MIAA Championship finals, while the loser will be relegated to the other half of the bracket and will have to play at 5 p.m. for the right to advance.