UNK Softball // UNK Commuincations
TUCSON, AZ – Three pitchers combined for a two-hitter in game one and juniors Kelsey Cordes and Rylyn Nelson hit two-run homers in the nightcap to help Nebraska Kearney beat Davis & Elkins (W.V.), 4-1, and Minnesota State-Moorhead, 8-7, Thursday in Tucson, Ariz.This was day one of the Division II Cactus Classic. Weather pushed back the start of the tourney by two hours with the game against the MSUM Dragons delayed almost an hour with UNK up to bat in the top of the sixth inning.Coming off a 30-16 season, Moorhead (4-2) dropped both of its games today. The Lopers never trailed as they scored one the third, three in the fourth and four in the fifth. However, the Dragons almost came back thanks to a four-run fifth and a two-run sixth.A big Loper fourth featured a leadoff double from freshman third baseman Gianna Galli (Stockon, Calif.) and RBI singles by senior right fielder Abbie Jo Gaube (Omaha) and sophomore shortstop Mary Chvatal (Wahoo). In the fifth, Galli drew a one out walk and then Nelson (Sterling, Colo.) smacked a two-run to left. Junior first baseman Leah Jurgens (Crete H.S.) then reached via walk with Cordes (Waverly) belting her first career homer to make it 8-1.MSUM took advantage of an error to score four runs in its next at-bat with Lexie Wilson having a two-out, two-run double to left. However, she remained at second as freshman Lauryn Haggadone (York) got a ground out to end the inning. The Dragons left the tying run at second in the sixth as freshman Daniella Morillas (Newcastle, Calif.) got an inning-ending K.Chvatal (2 for 4, two RBI’s), Cordes (2 for 3, two RBI’s) and junior catcher Jocelynn Molina (2 for 4) paced the UNK offense with Morillas earning a 1.2 save and sophomore Madeline Janssen (Earlham, Ia.) allowing no earned and fanning five in 4.2 innings.There were just six hits, but 13 strikeouts, in game one. Morillas (5.2 IP, five K’s) and Janssen (1.1 IP, save) kept the D&E Senators (4-2) at bay with UNK tallying two in the bottom of the third and fifth innings.Gaube (2 for 3), Galli (1 for 2, one RBI) and junior DP Addy Deal (1 for 2, one run & two RBI’s) led the way at the plate. Junior outfielder Eden McNally (Castle Rock, Colo.) had a sac fly to start the scoring with Galli having a two-out, run scoring triple. In the fifth, insurance was added thanks to a two-run single to right by Deal (Ft. Collins, Colo.).UNK faces Western New Mexico and Hawi’i Hilo on Friday.
