TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Missouri Western baseball team (17-8, 9-5) picked up its 11^th win in the last 13 games, 7-4 at Northeastern State on Thursday.

The Griffons took a 1-0 lead in the important MIAA series with early run production and a third straight solid outing from a starting pitcher. Missouri Western led 7-0 after four innings, getting one in the first, two in the second and four in the fourth. Richard Peoples moved to 4-2 on the year, going the first six innings and allowing three runs on four hits. Peoples stuck out five and walked five. Weston Caindec earned the three-inning save, his first of the season, allowing one run on one hit with two strikeouts.

Missouri Western totaled 10 hits, getting two-hit games from Orencio Fisher, Jeremy Alvarado and Ozzie Rodriguez. Cosimo Cannella drove in three with his one hit, a three-run home run in the fourth.

Game two of the series is scheduled for Friday with a 2 p.m. first pitch. The teams came into Thursday among five teams tied for third in the MIAA standings.