Kearney, Neb. – University of Nebraska Kearney softball team splits games with Fort Lewis College in the home opener Saturday afternoon at Dryden Park. The Sunday games of the series were cancelled due to the unplayable field conditions and an icy rain.

UNK (5-9 and 5-5, RMAC) got another strong pitcher performance from junior Kirstie Hiatt (McCook), pitched complete game in 9-2; win in game one of the doubleheader.

The Lopers got off to a great start by scoring three runs in the first four innings. In the first inning the Lopers scored first when junior DP Jessie Thomas (Yutan) would double to right center to score freshman leadoff hitter Whitney Frederick (Blair) from second.

UNK would add another run in the following inning thanks to a single to left center off the bat of freshman Emily Mierau (Grand Island) to score fellow freshman Jen Kramer (North Platte) from second base.

Nebraska Kearney would score insurance runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Mierau singled for left field to score another freshman Rose Smith (Blair) from second, after she led off the inning with a double down the right field line.

Junior Allie Frost (Valley) added two run in fifth inning, when she doubled to left field to score Thomas and junior Ali Seberger (Lexington).

Smith finished the scoring for the Lopers when she hit her first career home run in a Loper uniform, with a three run shot to right field scoring Thomas and junior Dani Mowinkel (Hooper).

In what turned out to be the final game of the series, UNK would score five run in the first inning; however FLC (6-9 and 5-5, RMAC) would comeback to score ten runs to earn the split by getting 10-8 victory.

Nebraska Kearney would bat around in the first inning getting five runs on five hits to lead 5-0 after one inning.

Fort Lewis would cut into the Nebraska Kearney led by getting three runs in the following half inning thanks to a homer by Hayley Bolyard to left center that lead off the inning, followed by two more runs in the inning to still trail 5-3.

The Skyhawks would score single runs in the third and fifth innings, plus adding two runs in the fifth inning.

After FLC took the lead in their half of the fifth inning, senior Cassie Keck (Blair) would hit her tenth home run of the year to left field and tie the game at six all.

Fort Lewis would add four insurance runs in the final two innings, however Nebraska Kearney would try to mount a comeback in there last at bats, but only got two runs off the bat of Seberger.

Nebraska-Kearney goes back on the road for games at Northwest Missouri State & Mesa State.