Booneville, MS – Northeast's home finale of the 2026 season kicked off with a bang against the Southwest Bears with the Tigers hitting out three bangers in the first inning of game one to propel them out to a 14-2 run rule win in seven innings before falling just one score short in game two in a 4-3 loss for a split on the day. 

It was a home run show in the first inning for Northeast with Conner McKnatt and Hank Eaton combining for back-to-back solo bombs to take an early lead over Southwest. Trae Cagle hit a single to right field before getting driven in with an RBI-triple courtesy of Drew Hollimon to increase the lead to 3-1 before a two-run shot out to left from Brett Haas made it a 5-1 Tiger lead after one inning.

 Haas was on fire the entire game with his second hit coming in the third inning with an RBI-single to drive in Cagle to extend the lead to five after three. Another five runs for Northeast in the fourth made the lead double digits with Hollimon hammering out a triple to bring in three scores followed by Haas who's third hit of the day resulted in an RBI-double with Austin Spears' RBI-single putting the lead at 11-1 heading into the fifth. 

A solo home run for the Bears in the top of the sixth cut the Tigers' lead down to nine going to the bottom of the inning where once more Northeast answered back with Spears hitting another RBI-single to make it a ten-run lead again. Kieran Coleman added to the Tigers' scoring with a 2-RBI double to drive home Spears and Hollimon to help secure a run rule win for Northeast 14-2 in game one. 

Key Stats from Game 1:

• Matthew Osteen pitched a complete game of seven innings in his sixth win of the season where he allowed five hits and struck out three batters. 
• Haas went 3-for-4 at the plate in game one with two runs, a double, a two-run homer, and three RBI. 
• Hollimon went 3-for-4 at the plate in game one with three runs, two triples, and four RBI. 

Just like in game one, Northeast took an early lead in game two with Eaton sending out a triple that bounced over the outfielder's head to drive in McKnatt before scoring on a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead after the first. This time Southwest was the one to respond with the Bears scoring three runs in the top of the second to put the Tigers in a 3-2 hole. Another run for Southwest in the fourth made it a two-run lead for the Bears with Northeast struggling to connect on hits until the sixth inning where a single from Brett Haas got runners in scoring position while a sacrifice fly from Colin Flurry drove in Hollimon to cut the deficit to one. Despite holding Southwest scoreless in the top of the seventh and getting Brody Winemiller on base with a walk, the Tigers could not score the tying run as they fell in game two 4-3 for a split. 

Key Stats from Game 2:

• Northeast pitching struck out eight total batters with Ayden Jacobs striking out three in two innings pitched and Jordan Evers striking out five batters in five innings pitched. 

The Tigers improve to 25-26 overall on the season with a conference record of 12-14 in MACCC action. They will conclude the 2026 regular season on the road against Meridian this upcoming Tuesday with the doubleheader beginning at 3:00 PM for a must win as Northeast attempts to clinch a playoff berth.