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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

February 18, 2022: The University of Nebraska at Kearney Lopers play against the Oklahoma Christian University Lady Eagles at Tom Heath Field at Lawson Plaza on the campus of Oklahoma Christian University.
Steven Christy Photography
2
Nebraska-Kearney UNK 23-22, 13-10 MIAA
4
Winner Northeastern St. NSU 25-23, 13-10 MIAA
Nebraska-Kearney UNK
23-22, 13-10 MIAA
2
Final
4
Northeastern St. NSU
25-23, 13-10 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Nebraska-Kearney UNK 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 6 0
Northeastern St. NSU 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 4 6 1

W: Gail Young (10-9) L: Bott, Stacy (7-3)

5
Nebraska-Kearney UNK 23-23, 13-11 MIAA
9
Winner Northeastern St. NSU 26-23, 14-10 MIAA
Nebraska-Kearney UNK
23-23, 13-11 MIAA
5
Final
9
Northeastern St. NSU
26-23, 14-10 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Nebraska-Kearney UNK 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 5 7 2
Northeastern St. NSU 5 2 0 1 0 1 X 9 11 0

W: Savannah Evans (10-10) L: Thomason, Sydney (2-4) S: Madison Heinle (2)

Game Recap: Softball |

'Hawks Use Three HR's to Take Doubleheader; MIAA Hopes Still Solid

Kearney, Neb. – Senior left fielder Sydney Balderrama hit three home runs to help Northeastern State sweep a double header from Nebraska-Kearney, 4-2 and 9-5, Friday afternoon in Tahlequah, Okla.

The RiverHawks improve to 26-23 (14-10) while the Lopers are now 23-23 (13-11). NSU is 9-1 vs. UNK in Tahlequah since the 2014 season. 

UNK can earn its first-ever trip to the eight-team MIAA Tournament three ways this weekend; with one win tomorrow at No. 6 Rogers State (41-9, 18-6), if Newman (18-26, 9-13) losses one game at Missouri Southern (24-21, 12-10) or Pittsburg State (22-25, 4-18) or if MSSU goes 0-4. NU swept UNK earlier this month to have the tie-breaker between the two with MSSU also facing nationally-ranked Central Oklahoma over the next two days. 

Senior lefty Gail Young improve to 10-9 by throwing a complete game six-hitter in the early contest. The two-time All-MIAA pick fanned seven and walked two while throwing 123 pitches. UNK countered with Colorado southpaw Madison Rosenthal who fanned four and didn't walk a 'Hawk in 4.1 innings. She gave up two earned on four hits and threw 56 pitches.

Balderrama started her huge day by going yard in the bottom of the fourth to break a scoreless tie. UNK countered with small ball, using a bunt single, sac bunt, an opposite field single and another single to tie things up in the fifth. However, Young got out of a jam thanks to a fielder's choice and fly out.

After NSU used a double to move ahead by a run in the sixth, the Lopers got a dramatic two-out solo dinger from freshman designated player Lyndsey Roth (Lincoln North Star) in the seventh. That marks her eight long ball of the spring, second most on the squad.

However, Balderrama struck again, hitting her eighth homer of the year with one down in the bottom of the inning. She finished 2 for 4 with two runs and three RBI's from the three-hole. The Lopers were paced by Roth (2 for 4) and Blair junior catcher Katie Gosker (2 for 2, one walk).

Balderrama was at it again in her next at-bat, hitting a two-run shot as part of a five-run first. She finished this game 2 for 3 with leadoff hitter and center fielder Rhomie Bradshaw 3 for 4 with two runs.

UNK tried to come back, scoring three in the fifth and two more in the sixth. Both freshman Sydney Thomason (Ripon, Calif.) and sophomore Abbie Jo Gaube (Omaha Gross) had two hits with Thomason belting her fifth homer of the year in the fifth.

Oklahoma State transfer and sophomore Savannah Evans moved to 10-10 by fanning seven and working around four hits and four walks in five full innings. Rosenthal had another effective outing, giving up just two earned in five innings of relief work. She also fanned four without a walk.
 
 
 
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