Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Kearney, Neb. – The Southwest Baptist University softball team picked up a double-header sweep at Nebraska-Kearney on Friday, taking game one 10-6 followed by a 7-4 game two victory. At the conclusion of the day SBU now stands at 7-11 (2-0 MIAA).

In game one Catlin Evans led the game off by getting hit by a pitch, and came home two batters later on an rbi double to right center by Dana Graves to give SBU a 1-0 lead. UNK responded in the bottom of third with a run of their own, tying the game at 1-1, before SBU re-took the lead in the top half of the following inning.

With two outs in the top of the fourth Kori Hillenburg and Catlin Evans hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. Rachel Ray then hit an rbi double, scoring Hillenburg, and a Loper error brought home Evans as SBU took a 3-1 lead. However, the Lopers responded in the bottom half of the inning with two of their own runs to tie the game at 3-3 before taking a 4-3 lead after five innings of play.

In the top of the sixth Stef Lischke led the inning off with a solo homerun, tying the game at 4-4. Yezzani Gonzalez then doubled, moved over to third on a fly out, and came home on a sacrifice fly from Evans to give SBU a 5-4 lead. Rachel Ray kept the inning alive with an infield single, and a Dana Graves two-run homerun pushed the lead to 7-4. Caitlyn Cooner then singled to right field, and came home two batters later on an rbi single from Lyndie Routh to extend the Bearcat lead to 8-4.

SBU added two more runs in the top of the seventh on an rbi single from Graves while also scoring another run on a passed ball. UNK plated two more runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the Bearcats would go on to claim the 10-6 victory. In the circle Kacey Ayers picked up the victory by throwing a complete game.

In game two SBU once again jumped ahead in the top of the first. With one out in the inning Ray reached base on a UNK error, and came home two batters later on an rbi single from Cooner. The Lopers answered back in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game at 1-1.

In the top of the second Lischke led the inning off with a double to center field, and after an SBU out, back-to-back infield singles from Gonzalez and Hillenburg loaded the bases. Evans then hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Lischke, and another UNK error plated two more runs as SBU led 3-1.

The Bearcats continued to pile on the runs, scoring two more in the top of the third. Cooner led the inning off with a walk, was sacrificed to second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and came home on an rbi single from Lischke. Lischke then stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and came home on a passed ball to give SBU a 7-1 lead. UNK would add three more runs over the next five innings, but the Bearcats would cruise to the 7-4 victory. Hunter Middleton earned the win for the Bearcats in game two, while Ayers came in for a three out save in the seventh.

SBU will return to action on Saturday, March 5 when they travel to Fort Hays. Opening pitch of game one of the double-header is set for 1:00 p.m. from Hays, Kansas.