EMPORIA, Kan. — Northeastern State held Wayne State to four hits as the Riverhawks blanked the Wildcats 2-0 Friday afternoon at the Emporia State Softball Classic.
The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when Northeastern State struck for two runs on four hits to take a 2-0 lead.
Wayne State threatened to score in the fifth inning as Annie Grammer tripled with one out, but was left stranded at third base.
The Wildcats mounted another scoring threat in the seventh as pinch-hitters Michaela Smith and Kamryn Sparks opened the inning with singles. A Kim Vidlak fielder’s choice moved runners to second and third with two outs, but the Riverhawks got Kortney Buresh to ground out to end the game.
Northeastern State held a 5-4 advantage in hits over the Wildcats. Grammer tripled for the lone extra base hit for Wayne State while Smith, Sparks and Emily Chandler each singled.
Riley Vanderveen suffered the pitching loss, charged with two runs on three hits over 3 1/3 innings with four walks and no strikeouts. Makenna Adkison worked the final 2 2/3 innings with scoreless relief, giving up just two hits with one strikeout.
Wayne State (9-8) will play two more games Saturday at the Emporia State Classic, battling Pittsburg State at 12:30 p.m. and Central Missouri in a 3 p.m. contest.
