UNK Lopers // UNK Communications
BROKEN ARROW, OKLA. – Senior catcher and cleanup hitter Emily Sampson hit a walk-off home run in game one and junior Madison Heinle threw 5.1 strong innings in game two to help Northeastern State take a double header from Nebraska-Kearney, 5-4 and 6-1, Saturday afternoon in Broken Arrow, Okla.
These were the final games of the 2024 season for both the RiverHawks (10-33, 5-21) and Lopers (18-31, 6-20). Due to weather and field conditions, the double dip was moved from Tahlequah to Broken Arrow High School.
In game one, NSU built a 4-0 lead thanks to a couple of RBI hits and three Loper errors. Overall, three of the ‘Hawks five runs were of the unearned variety. UNK began a comeback when Wahoo sophomore shortstop Mary Chvatal laced a two-run single down the right field line in the fifth. In its next at-bat, the Colorado junior second baseman Rylyn Nelson scored on a wild pitch with a single to right center by Colorado junior DP Addy Deal tying things up. The potential go-ahead run was stranded at second with UNK then stranding two in its half of the seventh.
After California freshman Daniella Morillas (10-14) got a flyout to start the bottom of the inning, Sampson belted a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence for her fourth dinger of the spring. Junior outfielders Drew Hawkins (3 for 3, one run) and Macie Sawney (2 for 3, one run) paced a 10-hit ‘Hawk attack.
UNK finished with four hits with Morillas allowing two earned in throwing her fifth complete game of the year. Over 122 pitches she fanned one and walked just three.
Heinle (7-20) fanned four and allowed only four hits and a walk over the first 5.1 innings in game two. Redshirt freshman Korynn Tindel then worked out of a bases loaded same in the seventh and thus allowed no runs in 1.2 innings.
NSU scored three runs in both the second and fourth innings with second baseman/center fielder Allison Zanca (3 for 3, one run) causing the most damage. UNK was led by California freshman DP Gianna Galli (2 for 3, one RBI) and Iowa sophomore pitcher Madeline Janssen who allowed no runs over the final 2.1 innings.
Senior pitcher Madison Rosenthal (Johnstown, Colo.) and outfielders Carly Dembowski (Lincoln North Star) and Abbie Jo Gaube (Omaha Gross) played their final games today. Each was a four-year Loper with Rosenthal having a no-hitter in the 2022 MIAA Tournament and Gaube tying the school-record for walks in a career (82).
