2023 Finale Sunday Against the Champs
Kearney, Neb. – Sophomore Madison Heinle tossed a nine-hit complete game in the nightcap and saved game one to help Northeastern State take a double header from Nebraska Kearney, 3-2 and 4-1, Saturday afternoon at Patriot Park. The RiverHawks (29-10, 11-13) keep its' MIAA Tournament hopes alive while the Lopers (16-32, 7-17) will close out 20223 on Sunday against defending national champion and No. 8 Rogers State (39-10, 16-8). At always blustery Patriot Park, today might've been the windiest for a UNK game as it blew from left to right field between 30-40 miles per hour all day long. Many a pop fly started near the left field line or third base and ended up across the diamond. Heinle (12-7) threw 117 pitches in game two as UNK stranded nine base runners. The Lopers had nine singles, got hit twice and drew a walk but didn't get on the scoreboard until an RBI single from Lincoln junior centerfielder Carly Dembowski in the sixth. NSU saw nine-hole hitter and centerfielder Delaney Mills go 3 for 3, leadoff hitter and shortstop Jaeden Rosequist finish 2 for 4 with left fielder Savannah Evans belting a two-run shot to right center in the third. That made it 3-0 'Hawks as they scored once in the second thanks to three singles. They then added an unearned insurance run in the fifth. California sophomore shortstop and leadoff hitter Sydney Thomason went 2 for 3, as did sophomore first baseman Leah Jurgens. She also scored UNK's lone run. Finally, Colorado junior lefty Madison Rosenthal had her best outing of 2023, fanning seven and walking none in 4.2 innings of relief work. The 'Hawks used a two-run second to grab the lead for good in game one. The inning featured two walks, two singles and three fielder's choices. Evans (11-11) gave up five hits in six innings with Heinle striking out two to work around a double in the seventh. Lincoln sophomore DP Lyndsey Roth went 2 for 2 with a run and RBI while Omaha junior leftfielder Abbie Jo Gaube went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Finally, UNK honored seniors Stacy Bott (Thornton, Colo.), Katie Gosker (Blair) and Avery Wood (Kearney) prior to game one.
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