Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney softball team began its 2010 season by going 1-3 this weekend in Pueblo, Colo. These games were not on the Lopers original schedule.

UNK was swept by Colorado State Pueblo, 1-0, and Chadron State, 2-1 (8), on Friday. The Lopers bounced back to beat the Eagles in 9 innings on Saturday, 9-8, before being blanked by the Thunderwolves, 3-0, again.

In the four games, junior 3b Cassie Keck (Blair) batted .455 with 2 HR's and 5 RBI's. She also had a team-high 9 assists in the field and drew 3 of the team's 10 walks.

Also at the plate, senior CF Alissa Larsen (Lincoln) batted .429 with 2 runs scored and 3 stolen bases in 3 attempts.

On the mound, Scribner sophomore Dani Mowinkel fanned 11 T-Wolves, over six full innings, in the season opener and finished the weekend with 17.

Freshman Becky Dunn (Papillion-LaVista South H.S.) earned UNK's lone win by allowing two runs over 4.2 innings of relief work on Saturday morning.

UNK grabbed a 7-4 lead over the Eagles with a four-run sixth, highlighted by a three-run homer from Keck (2 for 3, 2 runs). However, Chadron responded with three runs in its half of the sixth to tie things up and eventually force extra innings.

In the game, CSC had just five hits but four of those were homers.

After each team scored a run in the 8th inning, sophomore LF Austin Wilson (2 for 5, 2 runs) hit a one out single to right that brought home pinch runner Shayla Frost (Kearney).

Frost recently joined the UNK team; she also is a member of the soccer team.

Dunn ended the game in style by fanning the last two Eagles with the tying run at third and the winning run at second.

UNK is scheduled to host Fort Lewis next weekend at Dryden Park.