NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College baseball team was back at home Saturday for the finale of their series with No. 9 Kirkwood Community College.

The Hawks fell in the showdown by a final score of 8-4 in what marks their first conference-series loss of the season.

Northeast (20-13, 7-3 ICCAC) and the Eagles split two nail-biting matchups yesterday and that same intensity was again evident today as the two squads combined for nine runs in the first three innings.

Pierce Wright (Olathe, Kan.) came up huge for the Hawks with a two-RBI single that scored two runs in the bottom of the second frame while  Kale Jenson  (Central City, Neb.) and Derek Woolwine (Boulder, Colo.) both picked up RBIs in the third inning in what were the final runs of the day for Northeast.

Nick Vilims (Evergreen, Colo.) was solid out of the bullpen for the Hawks as he tossed 3.2 innings and struck out five batters.

Kirkwood was led by Devin Doyle, taking the mound and the third inning and striking out 11 Hawks while only allowing two hits.

Owen Ross had two hits and three RBI’s, while Addison Binnie added a two-run shot in the 9th inning that helped put the Hawks away.

The Northeast Hawks are back in action when they battle the DMACC Bears on Wednesday.