Box Score TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (April 23, 2016) -- For the second straight day, the 12th-ranked Mules mounted a comeback at Northeastern State, but unlike the series opener on Friday this time the Mules didn't come out on top. NSU came back with a rally of their own and beat UCM 9-7 to even the series at a game apiece.
The Mules (27-11, 25-6 MIAA) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first on
Bennett Oliver's three-run home run. It was his second in as many days and 15th of the season. The RiverHawks (22-18, 16-14 MIAA) came right back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Eric Kirkpatrick singled in the first run and Dakota Woods singled home another to make it 3-2.
Northeastern State took the lead in the fourthk, scoring four runs on a pair of home runs. Justin Burgess hit a three-run home run to put NSU in front and Shane Bridges made it back-to-back homers to give the RiverHawks a 6-3 lead.
The Mules rallied for two runs in the top of the fifth on Oliver's second home run of the game to make it 6-5. His 16th long ball of the season moves him in to a tie with Francisco Leandro (2004) and Adam Milauskas (2006) for the sixth most home runs in a single-season in UCM history. The Mules tied the game in the sixth when
Miles Orscheln singled, went to second on a sac bunt, third on a flyout and scored on a wild pitch.
UCM had a chance to regain the lead in the seventh with
Matt Elliott and
Dylan Farrell getting hit by pitches to lead off. After
Jake Alexander sacrificed them to second and third, respectively, the RiverHawks intentionally walked Oliver to load the bases with one out.
Derek Cornell hit the ball hard, but right at the NSU second baseman, who turned the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
The game was tied until the bottom of the eighth when NSU scored three times to take a 9-6 lead. Zane Takhar singled home Woods to give the RiverHawks the lead and Michael Rhea hit a two-run homer to make it 9-6.
The Mules got a run back in the ninth on Farrell's solo home run to make it 9-7, but that is how the game would end.
Ethan Westphal (6-2) took the loss for UCM after giving up nine runs, eight earned, on 11 hits over 7.2 innings. He walked one and struck out six, but did allow three home runs. Tyler Yancey (2-2) picked up the win in relief for NSU, allowing one run on one hit in two innings of work.
The series wraps up on Sunday with first pitch set for noon at Rousey Field.
