UNK Lopers // UNK Communications
CLAREMORE, OKLA. – The 12th-ranked Rogers State Hillcats rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 5-3, in the second game of a double header Friday in Claremore, Okla.
Weather delayed the late game for a bit with RSU (38-10, 21-3) winning the first game in five innings, 11-1. UNK (18-29, 6-18) finishes up the 2024 regular season tomorrow against Northeastern State in games that’ll be played at Broken Arrow H.S. due to weather.
The Lopers took a 2-0 lead in the nightcap after sac flys by redshirt junior infielder Rylyn Nelson (Sterling, Colo.) and sophomore shortstop Mary Chvatal (Wahoo). However, the ‘Cats scored three in the third and two in the fourth to win.
The RSU third featured a leadoff single and then a double to make it 2-1. A Loper error tied things up with an infield single and fielder’s choice providing the go-ahead run. Right fielder and leadoff hitter Paxton Donaldson went 2 for 4 with one run and two RBI’s to pace the ‘Cats with Harley Cullie (6-1) allowing one earned in five innings of relief work.
UNK saw York freshman Lauryn Haggadone go the distance, allowing three earned on six walks and seven hits. She threw 115 pitches and managed 10 fly outs. At the plate, Nelson was 1 for 2 with a run and two RBI’s.
Senior right fielder Abbie Jo Gaube (Omaha Gross) drew a walk in the first game, giving her 82 in her career. That ties the school mark set by Hall of Famer Darice Berry between 1997-00.
It was just 3-0 before RSU struck for eight in the fourth. That inning featured six hits, two walks and a Loper error with Donaldson (3 for 3, three runs & two RBI’s) and two-hole hitter Kayla Carney (3 for 4, one run & one RBI) leading the way for Rogers. Besides Gaube, California freshman DP Gianna Galli had an RBI for the Lopers.
