April 14, 2008

Softball Goes 3-1 in New Mexico

Lopers Sweep Cowgirls; Split with Mustangs

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney softball team got three strong pitching performances and had some big hits to win three games in Las Vegas, New Mexico, this weekend.

On Saturday, the Lopers (15-21, 14-16 RMAC) swept a double header from New Mexico Highlands, 2-1 and 4-3. UNK then split a double header with Western New Mexico on Sunday, winning 3-1 and losing 8-3.

The loss to the Mustangs (22-25, 14-16 RMAC) ended a seven game Loper win streak. Prior to this hot stretch, UNK had lost 13 of 14 games.

In the first game of the weekend, freshman Jessie Thomas and senior Amanda Bell limited the Cowgirls (8-37, 6-30 RMAC) to one run and eight hits. Bell earned the win as she threw four scoreless innings of relief.

Bell got out of a bases loaded, no out jam in the fourth by getting two ground balls and a pop up.  

UNK had only five hits at the plate, three coming from sophomore Laura Gormley. Her single in the sixth allowed sophomore Alissa Larsen to score and break a one all tie. Larsen started the inning by reaching on an error.

In the night cap, junior Ashley Guyle threw a complete game eight hitter to win for the third time this year.  Allowing three earned runs, she didn’t walk a batter and struck out four.

Five of the Lopers’ 11 hits came in a three run third and helped erase a 2-0 deficit. Senior catcher Molly Langerak (3 for 3) had a run scoring single in the inning, as did Gormley.

On Sunday, Bell threw a complete game six hitter to run the win streak to seven. Fanning four and walking none, Bell only gave up a solo homer to Kaci Lewis in the sixth inning.

UNK again had only five hits but got a two run homer from sophomore Kelsey Smith (2 for 3) to highlight a three run third.

Western quickly ended hopes of an eight game win streak by scoring five times in the first inning in game two. The big inning featured six hits, including two triples.

The Lopers, finishing with seven hits, were held in check by Priscilla Garcia (11-13).  Langerak did hit a two run homer in the seventh inning, her fifth long ball of the year.

Weather permitting, UNK is at Wayne State Thursday. Pictured below are Smith-Bell-Gormley-Guyle.