UNK Athletics
Kearney, Neb. – Freshman southpaw Jerzie Schindler threw five strong innings and junior shortstop Mary Chvatal had an RBI triple to help Nebraska Kearney salvage the second game of a double header with Central Missouri, 3-2, Sunday afternoon at Dryden Park.
This is MIAA “Opening Weekend” with these games pushed back two days due to weather and field conditions.
After the Jennies (9-7) hit three homers to take game one, 9-0 in five innings, the Lopers rebounded behind Schindler (Central City). She improved to 5-2 by limiting UCM to one run over the first five innings with sophomore Daniela Morillas (Newcastle, Calif.) working out of two jams to pick up her second save.
Schindler walked two and gave up six singles with UCM stranded nine on the base paths. That included leaving the bags full in the second and stranding two in the fourth. At the plate, Colorado senior second baseman Rylyn Nelson (1 for 2, walk) laced an RBI double to right center to make it 1-0 in the first. UNK added two insurance runs in the fifth after Arizona junior left fielder Alivia De La Cruz led off with a single and Chvatal brought her home with a line drive triple to left center. She then scored via wild pitch.
In the top of the sixth, the Jens had runners at second and third with one down when leadoff hitter and center fielder Lea Blackman hit a grounder to third. Junior Alyissa Fortik (Raymond) threw home for the out with sophomore catcher Gianna Galli (Stockton, Calif.) then throwing down to second to catch Blackman in a run down. Finally, UCM had a sac fly in the seventh, but a ground out ended the game.
Emily Brouse (3-2) threw a five-inning one-hitter in game one. She worked around five walks thanks to four K’s with second baseman Jadyn Sheffield (3 for 3, three runs & two RBI’s) pacing a 12-hit attack.
UNK (9-9) hosts Missouri Western State Monday at 12 and 2 p.m. The Griffons (11-6) split with Fort Hays State today.