UCM’s (8-5, 4-0 MIAA) senior pitchers Jessica Wilkes (2-0) and Katie Shockley (2-3) both picked up victories on the day. Shockley tossed a complete game in the second of the twin bill, a run on four hits, striking out six Lopers while issuing two walks. Sophomore Lindsey Dawson went 3-for-7 with three RBI and a run scored in both games. The three RBI bumped her weekend total to 10, after driving in seven runs in a pair of victories against Fort Hays State on Saturday.
Game 1: UCM 6, UNK 5
Nebraska-Kearney got on the scoreboard in the top of the first on an RBI groundout from Kate Ruwe.
UCM evened the score in the bottom half of the inning after Ali Jo Rogers scored on a fielder’s choice after leading off with a single and swiping a pair of bases.
A three-run second inning for the Lopers gave Nebraska-Kearney a 4-1 lead courtesy of a two-run triple and an RBI single, but the Jennies would get two of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman Katie Giacone reached base on a throwing error by the shortstop and scored on a double to left center by Madison Hood, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Three batters later with runners on the corners, Dawson singled to left field, driving in Hood from third to pull the Jennies to within 4-3.
In the top of the fifth, Nebraska-Kearney tacked on its fifth run via a RBI double down the right field line from Ruwe.
The Jennies completed the comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning, plating three runs. Lauren Mabe and Allie Dishinger both singled and with one out, advanced a base after Giacone grounded out. Hood, the next batter, came through with a two-out, two run double to tie the game at 5-5.
Alex Leonhart hit for Amanda Nally and singled up the middle, plating Hood to give the Jennies a 6-5 lead after five innings.
Wilkes earned her second victory of the season, pitching 2 2/3 innings in relief. She did not allow a run and yielded just two hits. She struck out one.
Game 2: UCM 6, UNK 1
For the second straight game, Nebraska-Kearney took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with runners on second and third on a bunt single from Ruwe to UCM’s starting pitcher, Katie Shockley.
In the bottom of the second inning, Dishinger led off with a single and was replaced for pinch-runner, Austin Eickleberry. Eickleberry stole second before Hood struck out. She advanced to third on an groundout and later scored on a two-out single by Carlie Rose, tying the game at 1-1.
The Jennies picked up a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 3-1 lead. Rogers led off with a single then stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher on the stolen base attempt. Rogers then scored on an RBI single by Dawson, to make it 2-1. Prater and Mabe followed with singles, plating Dawson to give the Jennies the two-run advantage.
The Jennies received some breathing room in the bottom of the fourth. After the first two batters were retired, Rose walked and advanced to second on a single by Nally. A wild pitch advanced both runners up a base and later scored on a two-run single by Rogers, who advanced to second base on the throw, putting the Jennies up, 5-1.
Dawson, the next batter, made it a 6-1 ballgame on an RBI single.
Shockley retired nine in a row, striking out five Lopers in the process, to earn her second win of the season.
The Jennies’ 1-through-3 hitters went a combined 6-for-9 with three RBI and three runs scored in Game 2.
UCM is off to their best conference start (4-0) since the 2011 season when they opened MIAA play with five straight wins.
Next up for the Jennies is a trip to Florida for the PFX Spring Games from March 12-16. They will play in Winter Park on March 12 and 16 and also play four games in Clermont.