Kearney, Neb. – Sophomore Madeline Janssen threw a complete game five-hitter and freshman Daniella Morillas allowed just three hits over 6.1 innings to help Nebraska-Kearney sweep the University of Mary (N.D.), 8-3 and 5-2, Wednesday afternoon at Patriot Park.
This was supposed to be a four-game series between the Lopers (12-11) and the Marauders (7-15) from Bismarck but Thursday’s double header had been cancelled due to impending weather.
“We’re trying to teach these girls how to win, what it takes to win and not backing down from a fight,” said UNK head coach Katie Ackermann. “This is some good momentum after the first conference weekend.”
In game two, Janssen (Earlham, Ia.) surrendered a two-run home run to right in the second as the winds started to pick. However, Mary didn’t score again while fanning four times and not drawing a walk. Janssen, a transfer from Division I Texas A&M-Commerce, is now 5-5 with three complete games.
At the plate, UNK scored four in the fourth to erase a 2-1 deficit. Wahoo sophomore shortstop Mary Chvatal (2 for 3) and Colorado junior centerfielder Eden McNally (2 for 2) had back-to-back RBI singles with Colorado junior DP Rylyn Nelson following with a run scoring double. Earlier in the game, Omaha senior right fielder Carly Dembowski had an RBI sac fly.
“We changed our approach at little in game two with the winds shifting in. We didn’t challenge our ability to go the other way and I think that would’ve helped produce some more runs,” said Ackermann. “But that’s just me being greedy after two wins.”
To start the day, Morillas (Newcastle, Calif.) blanked UM over their first four at-bats and then came back to throw the final 1.2 innings. She fanned six and allowed just one extra base hit. Morillas is now 6-3 with a 3.14 ERA and a team-best 54 K’s.
“Daniella still has a road to go, coming back from a tough virus. There’s still more juice in the tank and a ceiling to reach,” said Ackermann. “But she’s a grinder and we love how hard she works.”
Nelson provided the pop at the plate with her team-leading fourth homer of the spring, a two-run shot in the third that made it 3-0. The Lopers then scored two more times in the fourth and tallied three runs in the fifth. Four different players had multi-hit efforts including Chvatal (2 for 3, three runs) and McNally (2 for 3, two RBI’s).
“In game one we didn’t take care of the ball like we should. I think we can play a cleaner, but we did a good job offensively. Overall, we had good approaches at the plate, got on base when we needed to and our pitchers threw strikes,” said Ackermann.
UNK faces Concordia-St. Paul (15-4) on Saturday and St. Cloud State (16-5) on Sunday.
Loper softball sweeps double header
