By Paul Freelend
UNO’s softball team continued its winning ways against Northern Colorado this past weekend, due mostly in part to the Bears’ loose fielding.
UNC committed eight errors in their two games against the Mavericks, allowing UNO to sweep the series 6-1 and 9-6 despite only scoring four earned runs.
Krista Unger’s pitching kept the Bears at bay for most of the first game. By the time UNC plated their first run in the bottom of the sixth inning on an Alicia Matt home run, the Mavs had already amassed a five-run advantage. Unger picked up the win to move to 4-0 on the season, while UNC’s Stacey Moon recorded her first loss of the season, dropping to 4-1. Erin Drinnin went 3-3 with two doubles, two runs scored, one home run and one RBI for the Mavs, while Jennifer Carson went 2-4 with a double and an RBI.
UNC drew first blood in the second game of the doubleheader, scoring in the bottom of the first and pulling even at 3-3 after the third inning. The Mavericks responded, however, posting five runs in the top of the fourth to put themselves in command. The Bears scored two runs in the final inning to pull within 9-6, but could rally no further.
Amanda Lehotak went 5-5 for UNO (6-0, 2-0 NCC) with two runs scored and two RBIs, a home run and a double. Sarah Scheppers also had a home run for the Mavs, while Carson and Drinnin each had a double. Emily Adkins picked up the win to improve her record to 2-0, while Unger recorded her first save of the season. Matt hit her second home run of the series for UNC (7-3, 2-2 NCC) in the loss.
UNO’s next action will be March 15 and 16 as they travel to Columbus, Ga., for the Columbus State tournament. The Mavs are scheduled to play North Central Conference foe St. Cloud State, Eastern New Mexico and South Carolina-Aiken in the opening day of play.
