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Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – Junior
Meg Housholder threw a complete game six-hitter and infielders
Macey Nelson and
Molly Stern hit back-to-back doubles in third inning to help Nebraska-Kearney edge Mary, 2-1, Saturday afternoon in St. Joseph, Mo.
These games were part of the three-day Hy-Vee Classic. UNK fell to Minnesota State, 8-3, earlier on Saturday.
The Marauders (6-17), from Bismarck, N.D., struck first thanks to a single and double in the bottom of the first. However, Housholder (Parker, Colo.) allowed only six more baserunners the rest of the way.
Both teams finished with six hits and six left on base. UNK took advantage of a one-out error to get started in its half of the third.
Junior right fielder
Kaela Samek (Lincoln Pius X) stole second after a fielding miscue by pitcher Madison Jahner (0-3). She came around to score thanks to a double by Nelson (2 for 4). After a wild pitch moved Nelson (Temecula, Calif.) to third, Stern delivered a two bagger to left for the game's final run.
Housholder picked up her ninth career win as a Loper by fanning four, walking two and allowing four singles and two doubles. This marks her 12th career complete game.
In the early contest, Mankato (21-3) scored two in the fifth and four more in the sixth to break a two all tie. A 15-hit attack was led by second baseman Ashley Thell and third baseman Samantha Buhmann, who both went 3 for 5.
Junior pitcher Libby Bemis (10-2) beat UNK for the second time this year by throwing a complete game seven-hitter. She fanned nine and walked just one.
The Lopers jumped out to a 2-1 lead as freshman catcher
Alexis Howe (Papillion-LaVista) belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. However, UNK wouldn't score again until Nelson had an RBI single in the seventh. With the bases full, Bemis got a pop up to first to end the game.
The Mavericks, receiving votes for the Top 25, used three hits, two wild pitches and an error to score twice in the fifth. The big sixth inning featured five hits, including a two-run triple by right fielder Carly Esselman.
UNK faces Northern State (9:00 a.m.) and Winona State (3:00 p.m.) on Sunday.
