Kearney, Neb. – Junior first baseman Leah Jurgens went 3 for 3 and sophomore shortstop Mary Chvatal knocked in three runs to help Nebraska-Kearney beat Ouachita Baptist, Ark., 9-4, Friday afternoon in Edmond, Okla.
The Lopers (4-4) fell to Oklahoma Baptist later in the day, 14-1 (5 innings). These games were part of the three-day Raising Cane’s Invitational in the Oklahoma City Metro area. UNK faces Southwestern Oklahoma State and Southern Arkansas on Saturday to close out the weekend.
The Blue & Gold scored nine runs against the Tigers (1-7) thanks to nine hits and seven walks. The Lopers had a four-run second to erase a 4-0 hole and then tallied three more in the third. Chvatal (2 for 3, one run), UNK’s leadoff hitter, started the rally with a two-run single to right in the second. She and senior right fielder Abbie Jo Gaube (two walks) later scored thanks to an infield error.
In the third, Jurgens (three runs) led off with a double to center with junior catcher Jocelynn Molina (2 for 4, two runs) following with a single to right. The pair both came home after a one-out triple down the left field line by junior left fielder Kelsey Cordes (1 for 3, one run). Finally, sophomore newcomer Madeline Janssen (Earlham, Ia.) earned her second win by throwing 5.1 shuout innings of relief.
OBU, ranked 22nd in the preseason Top 25, got a “Grand Slam” from freshman pinch hitter Abby Laskowski and a three-run double by sophomore catcher Haily Stanford (2 for 3) to overwhelm the Lopers. The Bison (5-5) finished with 13 hits and took advantage of 10 walks. In the circle, sophomore Jaycee Shaffer tossed a three-hit complete game with six K’s.
UNK did get a solo dinger from junior second baseman Rylyn Nelson (Sterling, Colo.), her second shot of the season, with Chvatal (Wahoo), having a single and walking twice.
