The Missouri Southern State Lions were strong in the late innings to sweep a double header from Nebraska Kearney, 4-3 and 3-1, Friday afternoon in Joplin.
These games were moved up a day due to expected rain in the area this weekend. UNK (22-25, 8-14 MIAA) is now in a four-way tie for eighth in the league standings with Emporia State (7-13 MIAA) right behind the pack. The top 10 teams advance to the MIAA Tournament April 30-May 3in Hays, Kan.
The Lopers were up 3-1 in game one on the strength of a solo shot from California sophomore catcher Gianna Galli in the second and RBI’s from Colorado redshirt freshman DP Kendall Kersey and Galli in the third. However, UNK stranded seven and didn’t score over the final four innings as Lions Lauren Fuller (2-0) was strong in relief.
Southern tallied one in the fourth thanks to a hit batter, two singles and a sac fly and then scored twice in the sixth to complete the comeback. A one-out double from shortstop Taylor Nuckolls (2 for 4) tied things up with the winning running coming home via wild pitch.
For UNK, Wahoo sophomore shortstop and leadoff hitter Mary Chvatal went 2 for 4 with California sophomore Daniella Morillas (7-5) allowing four earned on nine hits, four walks and two hit batters. Finally, she threw 113 pitches over six full innings with two K’s.
MSSU senior Avery Tallman (13-5) tossed a four-hit complete game in the nightcap. She needed just 86 pitches as the fanned five and walked none. At the plate, the Lions were led by Nuckolls (3 for 3, two RBI’s) again from the three hole. She had RBI singles in both the first and fifth innings with senior Abby DeSanto belting a pinch-hit homer in the sixth to add an insurance run. It was just her seventh at-bat of the year and her first dinger.
Colorado senior center fielder Eden McNally had an RBI double in the first but the Lopers stranded only two against Tallman. Central City freshman Jerzie Schindler (6-9) tossed her fourth complete game, scattering 10 hits and walking one in throwing 78 pitches.
UNK is at Fort Hays State next Saturday to end the regular season. The Tigers, Northeastern State (vs. Rogers State) and Northwest Missouri (at Missouri Western) are the other 8-14 squads with Emporia hosting last place Newman and visiting Washburn next weekend. The Lopers lost twice to E-State but split with NSU and Northwest.
