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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Leah Jurgens
Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications
4
Nebraska Kearney UNKSOFT 4-3
12
Winner Southern Nazarene SNU 6-5
Nebraska Kearney UNKSOFT
4-3
4
Final
12
Southern Nazarene SNU
6-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Nebraska Kearney UNKSOFT 3 0 0 1 0 4 6 3
Southern Nazarene SNU 3 3 3 3 X 12 15 0

W: J. Henderson (1-0) L: Schindler, Jerzie (2-1)

7
Winner Southeastern Oklahom SEOSU 6-5
6
Nebraska Kearney UNKSOFT 4-4
Winner
Southeastern Oklahom SEOSU
6-5
7
Final
6
Nebraska Kearney UNKSOFT
4-4
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Southeastern Oklahom SEOSU 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 3 7 12 1
Nebraska Kearney UNKSOFT 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 6 9 1

W: A. Malone (1-0) L: Janssen, Madeline (1-1) S: K. Simmons (1)

Next Game:

vs. Ecclesia (AR) College

2/24/2025 | 11:30 a.m. (NEW OPPONENT/DATE)

Game Changer

Next Game

Full Schedule
Feb. 24 (Mon) / 11:30 a.m. (NEW OPPONENT/DATE)
vs. Ecclesia (AR) College
History

Game Recap: Softball |

Crimson Storm & Savage Storm Rally Past the Lopers

Kearney, Neb. – Southern Nazarene and Southeastern Oklahoma State both rallied past Nebraska Kearney, 12-4 (5 innings) and 7-6 (8 innings), Friday afternoon in Piedmont, Okla.

These games were part of the annual Raising Cane's Invitational in the OKC Metro area. Due to the weather, the tourney was cut to a single day with games being played at three different locations. UNK (4-4) was scheduled for two games on Saturday and another one on Sunday; they've added a home double header vs. Sioux Falls on April 15 to help make up for the missed contests.  

UNK led game one against the SNU Crimson Storm 3-0 after a half inning and held a 4-0 lead against the SEOSU Savage storm after five full. However, both opponents rallied behind some big hits and then a play at the plate.  

Southeastern (6-5) saw sophomore Emily Simmons have a pinch hit, three-run homer in the top of the sixth inning to tie things at four. After SESOU worked out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh, Simmons came into pitch with two down and Lopers at first and second in the eighth.  

The Blue & Gold used a triple and sac fly to cut into a 7-4 deficit. Back-to-back singles by junior left fielder Alivia De La Cruz (Mesa, Ariz.) and sophomore shortstop Mary Chvatal (Wahoo) kept hope alive with red hot Alyssa Fortik (Raymond) up next. She worked Simmons to a full count before hitting a sharp grounder near second. Graduate second baseman Sabetha Sands bobbled the ball but Chvatal likely would have beaten a clean throw and the shortstop to the bag. Thus, Sands threw home, and De La Cruz was called out on a swipe tag by freshman catcher Laci Larsen. It appeared De La Cruz snuck under the tag but that, unfortunately, wasn't the call.

Chvatal (3 for 5, two runs) and Fortik (3 for 4, two runs & two RBI's) paced the offense with Simmons getting the save and teammate Jazzy Rios going 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBI's. Through eight games, Fortik is batting .560 with five doubles, six runs and nine RBI's. 

In the early game, SNU (5-5) banged out 12 hits including three doubles, a triple and homer. They scored three runs in each of the first four innings with sophomore Jentry Henderson throwing 3.1 innings of strong relief. Three-hole hitter and center fielder Kenedi Morelock (3 for 3, two runs & three RBI's) was one of three Storm players to have a multi-RBI effort.

Senior first baseman Leah Jurgens (Lincoln) had a two-run single in the first with senior third baseman Rylyn Nelson (Sterling, Colo.) and Chvatal knocking in runs as well.

Weather permitting, UNK heads to Branson, Mo., next weekend to face Southwest Baptist twice and non-NCAA members Mission U. (Mo.) an Ecclesia College (Ark.).
 
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Players Mentioned

Mary Chvatal

#13 Mary Chvatal

SS
5' 4"
Junior
R/R
Alyssa Fortik

#12 Alyssa Fortik

3b
5' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Leah Jurgens

#22 Leah Jurgens

1b
5' 7"
Senior
L/L
Rylyn Nelson

#25 Rylyn Nelson

2b
5' 5"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Alivia De La Cruz

#1 Alivia De La Cruz

OF
5' 2"
Junior
L/R

Players Mentioned

Mary Chvatal

#13 Mary Chvatal

5' 4"
Junior
R/R
SS
Alyssa Fortik

#12 Alyssa Fortik

5' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
3b
Leah Jurgens

#22 Leah Jurgens

5' 7"
Senior
L/L
1b
Rylyn Nelson

#25 Rylyn Nelson

5' 5"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
2b
Alivia De La Cruz

#1 Alivia De La Cruz

5' 2"
Junior
L/R
OF