April 23, 2008

Softball Splits at Chadron State

Loper RMAC Hopes Still Alive; Bell Retires 18 in a Row

     Kearney, Neb. – – Senior Amanda Bell threw a complete game two hitter and sophomore Laura Gormley hit a two run homer to lead the Nebraska-Kearney softball team to a 3-1 win at Chadron State Tuesday afternoon.

      The Eagles (20-20-1, 12-20-1 RMAC), behind two homers of their own, won the first game by an identical 3-1 score.

      The win in the night cap broke a six-game Loper (16-26, 15-21 RMAC) losing streak. The narrow victory also keeps UNK mathematically alive for the eight-team RMAC Tournament.

      While there were several other double headers in the RMAC on Wednesday, UNK will likely need to sweep Colo.-Colo. Springs this weekend at home and then get some help to make the tournament.

      In game two today, Bell (Ft. Collins, Colo.) gave up two singles in the first inning, the second scoring lead off hitter and pitcher Cassie Humphrey. Bell, winning for the ninth time in 2008 and for the 28th time in a UNK uniform, then retired the next 18 Eagles in order.

      UNK had only three hits for the game but two left the yard. Junior outfielder Hannah Liming (Kirk, Colo.) belted her fourth dinger of the year in the fifth to tie things up and then Gormley (Omaha Northwest) hit a two run shot in the sixth, with two out, to provide the winning margin.

      The sixth started when sophomore Alissa Larsen (Lincoln Northeast) reached first on an error by Humphrey.

      The first game was also a low scoring affair as Casey Williams threw a complete game four hitter for Chadron. On the other side of the diamond, Yutan freshman Jessie Thomas and Bell limited the Eagles to seven hits.       

      UNK's lone run came in the fifth when McCook senior Michelle Gaunt led off with a single and came around to score on a two out single from Blair sophomore Kelsey Smith.

      However, on the Smith's single, senior catcher Molly Langerak (Erie, Colo.) was thrown out at home.

      Humphrey led off the bottom of the first with her sixth homer of the year and then gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead when she hit a two out double in the second. Bell tossed the final 4.2 innings and gave up only a solo homer to Williams in the third.

      The Lopers and UCCS will play double headers Saturday (noon) and Sunday (11 a.m.). The first game Saturday will air live on KGFW AM 1340.  Pictured below are Bell-Gormley-Liming.