By BEN JOHNSON

Press Sports Editor

After lighting up East Central’s Wanda Malone on Sunday, the NSU RiverHawks failed to accomplish the same feat on Tuesday.

The RiverHawks only came up with five hits and two runs – both in the final inning – in a 4-2 loss to the Tigers at RiverHawks Park.

“We had opportunities, but we couldn’t get a key hit,” NSU coach Dee Gerlach, whose team fell to 1-4 at home this season.

The Tigers tallied runs in the first, fourth, sixth and seventh innings before the RiverHawks (6-17 overall, 1-6 Lone Star North Division) posted a two-run rally that fell short in the final frame.

East Central, who improved to 7-1 on the road this season, scored in the first when NSU’s Shelbi Bowin, of Tahlequah, bobbled a fly ball by Kasey Barber, which allowed Nicole Sanchez to score.

“We had that one error to start the first inning, and that was kind of disappointing,” Gerlach said. “Because it led to a run.”

And the one run was all Malone needed on the mound as she improved to 6-3 on the season. The junior hurler pitched a complete-game five-hitter while striking out six and only issuing on walk.

Her counterpart on the mound was NSU’s Lacee Craig, who entered Tuesday’s contest with a 6.36 earned run average. The senior from Bartlesville also went a complete game but issued nine hits – two solo home runs  – while giving up four runs (three earned). She also struck out three and walked one.

But according to Gerlach, Craig pitched well enough to pick up a victory.

“She did pitch well enough to win, said Gerlach, whose team is now 2-11 when allowing opponents to score in the first inning. “I know she gave up a couple of home runs, but we’ve got to score.”

The RiverHawks, who entered the bottom of the seventh down 4-0, made an attempt at a comeback, but was thwarted after cutting the deficit in half.

NSU’s Sydney Chapin reached base on an error at third base to begin the inning. And following a Rachel Turner strikeout, Lisa Ripperger, who was 2-for-3 in the contest, singled to center to give the RiverHawks two on with only one out.

Casey Moyer, who pinch hit for Ashley Rogers, nearly dropped in a single in right field, but the ball was snatched by the outfielder, leaving NSU with only one out to work with.

Then came Megan Heskett, who singled to center field scoring Ripperger and Marsee (running for Chapin) to give the RiverHawks their first runs of the game.

But just as NSU started to rally, East Central’s center fielder, Sanchez, made a running catch when Courtney Baker blasted a shot into left-center field.

The two East Central home runs came in the sixth and seventh innings.

Cassandra Nordie launched a home run over the center-field wall in the sixth before Sanchez posted her second home run of the season when she deposited a ball just under the scoreboard in left-center field.

East Central 11, NSU 9 (second game)

Sparked by five home runs, East Central won the second game of the doubleheader, 11-9.

Courtney Gaines and Cassandra Nordie blasted solo shots while Kasey Barber homered three times to propel the Tigers (17-7, 5-3) to the victory.

Barber ended up going 3-for-4 with seven RBI’s.

As a team, the Tigers totaled 11 runs on 10 hits – all off NSU’s Cayce Coleman, who fell to 4-7 on the season for the RiverHawks (6-18, 1-7).

NSU also posted 11 hits, but Coleman gave up four runs on four hits in the seventh to erase a 9-7 advantage that the RiverHawks had going into the final frame.

“We played really good defense,” Gerlach said. “We just got out hit.”

Malone, who came in to pitch in relief of Randee Crockett, picked up the win in the second game and improved to 7-3 on the season.

NSU’s next game will be March 26 in the LSC Crossover Tournament in Durant.