 LOCAL SPORTS CHADRON – Chadron State and Nebraska-Kearney split a pair of 3-1 decisions in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference softball doubleheader Wednesday afternoon in Chadron. Both UNK and CSC remain alive for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, but each squad needs some help. The Eagles are 20-20-1 overall and 12-20-1 in the conference, and the Lopers are 16-26 and 15-21. In the first game, CSC’s Cassie Humphrey was 2-for-3 at the plate while driving in two of the Eagles’ three runs. In the bottom of the first inning she hit a leadoff home run and she doubled home Jamie Mazankowski in the bottom of the second to help CSC take a 2-0 lead. The Eagles added their final run in the bottom of the third when pitcher Casey Williams hit a solo shot to right-center field. The Lopers added one run in the fifth inning with the bases loaded and one out when Michelle Gaunt scored from third after Kelsey Smith singled to left field. However, CSC got out of the jam with a double play that started when left fielder Erica Colbert fielded Smith’s single and threw out Molly Langerak, who was trying to score from second. After tagging Langerak, catcher Blair McEndaffer threw to third base to get Laura Gormley to end the inning. UNK loaded the bases again in the top of the seventh with two outs, but Williams got the last batter to pop up to third base for the game’s final out. In the game the Lopers stranded 10 runners. With the complete game win, Williams improved 14-11 on the season. She struck out six, walked five and scattered four hits. In the second game, UNK’s Amanda Bell, who pitched 4 2/3 innings during the first game, limited CSC to two and just two base runners while going the distance in the circle. CSC owned a quick 1-0 lead when Humphrey scored from second base after Williams hit a single, but Bell held the Eagles hitless the rest of the way. The Lopers tied the game in the top of the fifth on Hannah Liming’s solo home run and took the lead for good in the top of the sixth when Gormley hit a two-run shot over the center field fence. Humphrey took the loss in the circle. She allowed three hits and struck out six. Also on Wednesday, the RMAC announced its all-academic softball team. Humphrey and McEndaffer were each named to the second-team and Stephanie Hillman and Katelyn Moore were honorable mention. Humphrey has a 3.94 GPA in business administration and marketing, and McEndaffer has a 3.20 in business administration and agribusiness. Hillman owns a 3.53 GPA in social work and Moore has a 3.30 in business administration and marketing. The Eagles will host Metro State in a doubleheader Saturday at noon. © Copyright by Double Q Country Radio |