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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Zaria Brigham & Gianna Galli
Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications
6
Mo. Southern St. MO. SOUT 26-5, 1-2 MIAA
7
Winner Neb.-Kearney NEB.-KEA 12-20, 1-2 MIAA
Mo. Southern St. MO. SOUT
26-5, 1-2 MIAA
6
Final
7
Neb.-Kearney NEB.-KEA
12-20, 1-2 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Mo. Southern St. MO. SOUT 1 0 0 0 2 3 0 6 8 1
Neb.-Kearney NEB.-KEA 0 0 1 1 3 0 2 7 12 0

W: Morillas, Daniella (1-3) L: Emily Davis (9-3)

9
Winner Mo. Southern St. MO. SOUT 27-5
1
Neb.-Kearney NEB.-KEA 12-21
Winner
Mo. Southern St. MO. SOUT
27-5
9
Final
1
Neb.-Kearney NEB.-KEA
12-21
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Mo. Southern St. MO. SOUT 0 2 1 1 1 0 4 9 10 0
Neb.-Kearney NEB.-KEA 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 0

W: Emily Davis (10-3) L: Odle, Chloe (6-6)

Next Game:

at Missouri Western

3/28/2026 | 1 p.m.

MIAA Network

Next Game

Full Schedule
Mar. 28 (Sat) / 1 p.m.
at Missouri Western
History

Game Recap: Softball |

De La Cruz's Walk Off Single Helps UNK Split with #3 Mo Southern

Kearney, Neb. – Senior right fielder Alivia De La Cruz smacked a two-out, walk-off single up the middle to help Nebraska Kearney upset third-ranked Missouri Southern, 7-6, in game one of a double header Saturday afternoon at Dryden Park.

The Lions (27-5, 2-2) hit three solo homers in game two and had a four-run seventh to take the night cap, 9-1. After playing its first 29 games away from home, UNK (12-21, 1-3) returns to the road weekend.

The back-and-forth first game featured 12 walks, 20 hits, and five lead changes. Freshman designated player Kaycee Graff (Morris, Ill.) was the first hero as she delivered a two-out, two-run single down the right field line in the fifth to make it 5-3. However, Mo So had a quick response, and they countered with a two-out, two-run single to left to retake the lead in the sixth. On the play, sophomore left fielder Bailey Peterson (Oakdale, Calif.) almost made a diving catch on a liner hit by senior lefty Taylor Nuckolls (3 for 4).

UNK didn't score in the sixth with junior Daniella Morillas (Newcastle, Calif.) moving from third to the circle in the seventh and shutting the Lions down in order. In the bottom of the inning, junior shortstop Mary Chvatal (Wahoo) hit a one-out double to left and then scored on a two-out single to center by sophomore catcher Kendall Kersey (Parker, Colo.). Next, Graf hit a double to right center, but the Lopers played it safe and didn't send Kersey home. On a 1-2 pitch, the left-handed hitting De La Cruz (Mesa, Ariz.) recorded the game winner and snap a 10-game skid to the Lions. Last spring, UNK knocked off then-No. 11 Rogers State, 5-2, at home and twice bested Top 5 Central Oklahoma in 2002. 

Chvatal, De La Cruz, Graff and junior first baseman Gianna Galli (Stockton, Calif.) had two hits apiece with Morillas earning her first win. Finally, Mo So's top two hitters were a combined 5 for 7 with three runs and two RBI's.

Freshman Emma Davis (10-3) took the loss in game one but rebounded in a big way in the nightcap. She threw six shut out innings, strikeout five and walking just one. A 10-hit attack featured five extra base hits with Nuckolls (2 for 4, one run & three RBI's) a pest again and freshman second baseman Micah Snider (2 for 3, two runs) one of the Lions to go yard.

Morillas (2 for 3) and Raymond junior second baseman Alyssa Fortik (1 for 3, one RBI) paced the Lopers.

UNK is at Missouri Western (21-8, 2-4) next Saturday for its only games of the week. 
 
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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
Gianna Galli

#4 Gianna Galli

C/INF
5' 8"
Sophomore
R/R
Daniella Morillas

#24 Daniella Morillas

P/1b
5' 6"
Sophomore
R/R
Bailey Peterson

#2 Bailey Peterson

OF
5' 4"
Freshman
R/R
Alivia De La Cruz

#1 Alivia De La Cruz

OF
5' 2"
Junior
L/R
Kendall Kersey

#18 Kendall Kersey

C/UTIL
5' 8"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
Kaycee Graf

#15 Kaycee Graf

INF
5' 6"
Freshman
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
Gianna Galli

#4 Gianna Galli

5' 8"
Sophomore
R/R
C/INF
Daniella Morillas

#24 Daniella Morillas

5' 6"
Sophomore
R/R
P/1b
Bailey Peterson

#2 Bailey Peterson

5' 4"
Freshman
R/R
OF
Alivia De La Cruz

#1 Alivia De La Cruz

5' 2"
Junior
L/R
OF
Kendall Kersey

#18 Kendall Kersey

5' 8"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
C/UTIL
Kaycee Graf

#15 Kaycee Graf

5' 6"
Freshman
L/R
INF