By: Jeff Weseloh, Director of Athletics Media Relations
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Bolivar, Mo. -
Dana Graves blasted a walkoff three-run homerun to help the Bearcats earn a split over Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday afternoon in Bolivar. SBU dropped the first game of the doubleheader 5-4 before coming back to claim a 7-6 game two victory.
In game two the Bearcats were the first to strike by putting up four runs in third inning to take a 4-0 lead. With runners on second and third with one out in the inning,
Brittanie Halquist successfuly laid down an rbi bunt single to put the Bearcats up 1-0.
Caitlyn Cooner singled down the left side, bringing home
Rachel Ray, while
Dana Graves cleared the bases with a two-rbi double down the left field line to put SBU up 4-0. UNK responded with runs in the fourth and fifth, and four runs in the sixth, as SBU trailed 6-4 heading into the final half inning of play. Halquist led the inning off with a single, followed by a Loper error which put two runners on for Graves. Graves then hit a walk-off three-run homerun to left field to give the Bearcats a 7-6 game two victory.
In game one, UNK took a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.
Stormy Christerson led the bottom of the fourth off with a single, and two batters later
Hailey Turner singled to put runners on the corners with one out. Murders then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to cut the UNK lead to one at 2-1. The Lopers added another two runs in the fifth before the Bearcats got another run back when Cooner hit a sacrifice fly to bring home
Catlin Evans as SBU trailed 4-2. After holding UNK scoreless in the sixth, the Bearcats continued to chip away at the lead as they added their third run of the game off of a Loper error. UNK responded with a run in the seventh before SBU added a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning when Graves hit an rbi double to right center, but it wasn't enough as SBU fell 5-4.
The Bearcats will hit the road on Sunday, March 8 when they travel to Warrensburg, Missouri for a neutral site double-header against Fort Hays. Opening pitch of game one of the double-header is set for 3:00 p.m.