Box Score TAHLEQUAH, OKLA. – The East Central University baseball team fell 8-19 in non-conference action to Northeastern State.

The Tigers (0-1) were led by junior Riley Roberts at the plate.  Roberts hit .667 for the day, with two hits, one run and two RBIs.  Senior Casey Kenney added three hits and two RBIs with a.600 batting average.

Junior Dylan Sanchez started the game on the mound and suffered the loss.  Sanchez threw 1.2 innings, allowing six hits and six runs and striking out three.

ECU was the first to get on the scoreboard, taking a 4-0 lead after the top of the second inning.  Junior Trey Mound started the inning by drawing a walk and was joined on base by junior Kaleb Matthews with a single and junior Jake McKeel, who reached due to an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt, to load the bases.

That allowed sophomore Austin LoBue to earn an RBI when he was hit by a pitch and keep the bases loaded.  Junior JT Stevenson added an RBI with a single through the left side before the first out of the inning was recorded. 
Kenney then sent a run across when he reached on a fielder's choice.  The final run of the inning was scored when Roberts singled to third.

The RiverHawks (1-0) did not waste any time responding, taking a 4-6 advantage after a six-run second inning.

The Tigers added a run in the fourth.  LoBue was walked and sent to second on a sacrifice bunt and then third with a wild pitch.  Kenney then earned the RBI when he singled, to make the score 5-6.

Again NSU responded and added six more runs in the fourth for a 5-12 advantage.

ECU cut into the disadvantage again, with two runs in the fifth inning.  Roberts earned a leadoff walk and ended up scoring when Mound reached on an error during another sacrifice bunt attempt.  McKeel sent a second run home with a single to center, for a 7-12 score.

The Tigers scored their final run of the game in the sixth inning.  Junior Kodiak O'Ravez doubled to left center and was sent to third on a single by Kenney.  Roberts earned his final RBI of the game with a double to right center.

However, the RiverHawks added two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings and three in the eighth for the 8-19 final.

ECU will now prepare for the Quik Trip DII Classic, Feb. 5-6 in Grande Prairie, Texas.  The Tigers will face Washburn, Cameron and Southern Arkansas in the event.