May 3, 2008

Fort Lewis Holds Off Lopers in RMAC Tournament

UNK Faces Adams State Sunday Morning

     Kearney, Neb. – RMAC Pitcher of the Year Cary Moone tossed her third complete game in two days and catcher Jenna Peters went 2 for 3 to lead the fifth-seed Fort Lewis Skyhawks over the seventh-seed Nebraska-Kearney Lopers, 2-1, Saturday afternoon in Golden, Colo.

       This was the last winner's bracket game; FLC (27-23-1) now moves into the championship round tomorrow afternoon. Whomever comes out of the loser's bracket will have to beat the 'Hawks twice in order to win the tournament.

      Seeing a seven game win streak come to an end, UNK (22-27) will play second-seed Adams State tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Central in an elimination game. The winner would then play FLC in the first of possibly two championship games directly after.

      A transfer from Division I Georgia Southern, Moone blanked UNK for 6.2 innings before back-to-back doubles from freshman Jessie Thomas (Yutan) and junior Hannah Liming (Kirk, Colo.) got the Lopers on the board.

      However, Moone (14-8) recorded her 12^th strikeout to end the threat and game. In 21 innings pitched in the tournament, she has given up just 11 hits while fanning 32 and allowing only two runs.

      Senior Amanda Bell (Ft. Collins, Colo.) tossed her sixth straight complete game but was the tough luck loser. Blanking FLC for the first five innings, she saw Peters -- a first-team all-league selection -- lead off the bottom of the sixth with her 16^th homer of the year.

      Later in the inning, a two out RBI double brought home an unearned 'Hawks run.      

      For UNK, sophomore Alissa Larsen (Lincoln Northeast) went 2 for 3.