Mines-sweepers |
| Posted by Administrator on Apr 09 2008 |
Photo by Eric Korth
The UNK softball teams surround sophomore Kelsey Smith after her 3-run blast pushed the Lopers to an 8-5 lead over the Orediggers of the Colorado School of Mines during game one of the four game series.
Amanda Bell
Antelope Staff
Last weekend, the UNK Softball swept Colorado School of Mines in a four game series at Kearney’s Dryden Park. Mines was number one in the RMAC going into this past weekend, but after the four consecutive losses they are now ranked at number two.
This was the first time all season that the Lopers have won four in a row, and also the first time that the Lopers have swept another RMAC team.
While the Lopers are not having the winning season that they were predicted to have, they are still hopeful and these wins were huge for them.
Saturday's games consisted of the Lopers winning 8-5 and 2-1. Freshman Jessie Thomas, from Yutan, started the first game giving up only three runs in five innings. Junior Ashley Guyle, from Mead, threw a six hit complete game, giving up only one run and walking none.
Hitting played a major factor in the wins all weekend. Senior Molly Langerak, from Erie, Colo., set the pace of the game with two homeruns in the first game. Sophomore Kelsey Smith, from Blair also added a three-run homer in the same inning as Langerak's second. Smith's homerun blasted the Lopers to an 8-5 lead, which they held through the rest of the game.
"I just went into the weekend with the mentality of a champion. I was relaxed and focused at the plate. I was very determined. It's not like I was trying to hit homeruns, I was just trying to get base hits. I knew as a senior I had to step up for my team. Hitting is contagious, and I knew that if I got a hit or two, it would spark something from the rest of my teammates," Langerak said.
Sunday was no different from Saturday hitting-wise. The Lopers had 20 hits for the day, 12 of them coming in the first game alone. Lead-off hitter Michelle Gaunt, a senior from McCook, went 3 for 3 in the first game, and 2 for 4 in the second game.
Two of the Lopers also threw complete game wins. Thomas threw a seven hitter and won 6-3. This was the freshman's fourth win of the season.
"Throwing the fourth game is the hardest game to pitch, because they have already had so many at bats and have seen you so many times," Thomas said, "It's a mental test more than a physical test, because both teams are very tired."
"Coming in as a freshman, I didn't know what to expect, but this is such a fast-paced game that I've had to adjust quickly. Molly (Langerak) has also helped so much. She keeps me calm when I get tense, and makes me laugh during innings rather than letting me feel the pressure," Thomas said.
In addition to the tremendous pitching and catching, another Loper also had her season goal reached.
"Going into the season, I knew that I wouldn't get a ton of playing time, so my only goal was to touch home plate once," Mallory Nutt, a freshman from Cozad said. Sure enough, in the game Saturday, Nutt pinch ran for Laura Gormley, and sophomore Kelsey Smith hit a homerun to bring her in.
"It was glorious. It wasn't how I planned, because I wanted it to be a close play, but I just jogged in because it was a homerun, and hey, everybody loves a homerun," Nutt said.
There are still 12 games left in the Lopers' season, and the RMAC tournament is still within reach if the Lopers keep working hard.
"I think if we have our minds set that we're going to conference, then we will definitely make it," Langerak said. "If we play to our full potential then we will turn some heads along the way."
The Lopers next, and final, home games will be played April 26 and 27 at Dryden Park.
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