Story Headlines- The Bearcat softball team used a pair of solid pitching performances to sweep Nebraska-Kearney on a blustery Saturday afternoon in Maryville.
- Northwest tallied 10 hits and took advantage of three Loper errors in game one, winning 7-2.
- A four-run second inning helped the Bearcats cruise to a 5-1 victory in the nightcap.
- The Bearcats are now 27-9 this season and 11-5 in MIAA play, while the Lopers fall to 14-22 overall and 5-13 in the conference.
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Kendle Schieber and
Sarah Baldwin combined to allow just six Loper hits on the day.
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Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 7, Nebraska-Kearney 2)
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Kendle Schieber (15-5) picked up her 11th complete game victory of the season, giving up a pair of unearned runs on just three hits while striking out five. The senior added three RBIs at the plate after finishing 2-for-4, tying her single-game career high.
- Junior
Torri Blythe scored two runs and drove in another, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.
- Shortstop
Rebecca Maher connected with her team-leading 13th double of the season, finishing 2-for-4 with a run and one RBI.
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Chantel Adams added a pair of base hits, going 2-for-3 with one RBI and a run scored.
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Alexis Kelsey scored after drawing a walk in the first, finishing 1-for-3.
- Catcher
Jessica Rawie walked, singled and scored a run.
Game One Key Innings- Schieber faced four or fewer batters in six different innings, allowing multiple Lopers to reach base in only the second inning.
- Blythe opened the bottom of the first with a base knock into the gap in left center. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Jaedra Moses, Blythe bolted for third when Maher dropped in a double just inside the right field line. Consecutive walks to Kelsey and Adams put the Bearcats on the board, and Schieber added a second run two batters later when she blooped a single right behind the pitcher's circle.
- After the Lopers leveled the score at two in the top of the second, Northwest took the lead for good in the bottom of the frame after Blythe reached on an error by the pitcher. The junior scored from second two batters later when Maher sent a single past the shortstop. After Kelsey reached on a wind-aided single, Adams lifted a routine fly ball to right that was bobbled by the Loper fielder, allowing Maher to score from second.
- Northwest added a trio of insurance runs in the fifth inning after Adams led off with a single past a diving second baseman. Rawie then sent a sharp grounder to the second baseman, who tried to retire the lead runner but sent her throw sailing into left field. Schieber fouled off seven pitches in the next at bat, ultimately sending the 11th pitch she saw into the left field corner for a two-run double. Blythe knocked in the senior later in the inning with a single up the middle.
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Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 5, Nebraska-Kearney 1)
- Northwest scored its five runs on seven hits while committing two errors. The Lopers plated one run on three hits while making three defensive miscues.
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Sarah Baldwin (6-4) twirled a three-hit complete game, striking out five and surrendering just one unearned run.
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Torri Blythe legged out her sixth career triple, finishing 2-for-3 with one run and three RBIs.
- Sophomore
Jessica Rawie singled twice, scoring one run.
- Freshman
Jaedra Moses clubbed an RBI single in her second at bat.
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Kiana Baderdeen scored a run after drawing a walk in the second inning.
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Alexis Kelsey finished 1-for-3 with a run scored.
- Junior
Chantel Adams drew a pair of walks and drove in a run with a fifth-inning sacrifice fly.
Game Two Key Innings- Baldwin set the Lopers down in order four times.
- The Bearcats jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Adams drew a leadoff walk. Rawie then reached on a bunt single before Schieber reached on an error after laying down a sacrifice bunt to third. With the bases loaded, Blythe lifted a 1-2 pitch to deep right center, driving in three with a two-out triple. Moses followed with a single to deep short, scoring Blythe.
- Kelsey led off the fifth with a single to center that got past the Loper defender, allowing the first baseman to reach third. Adams sent her home two pitches later when she sent a sacrifice fly to right center.
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Up Next- The Bearcat homestand will resume Sunday, April 3 when Northwest hosts Fort Hays State in another MIAA doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12 noon.
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