TOPEKA, Kan. – Junior left fielder Nicole Spykstra hit a three-run home run and sophomore Kelsey Goodban threw four innings of strong relief to help the University of Nebraska at Kearney handed St. Cloud State its first loss of the season, 7-4, Friday afternoon in Topeka, Kan.
UNK (8-8) is set to play Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls today (Saturday) in the second day of the three-day Washburn Invitational softball tournament.
The Lopers grabbed the lead for good by scoring four runs in the top of the third inning. A leadoff walk and an infield hit put two runners on base for Spykstra, who hit her third home run of the spring. She finished 2 for 3 to push her season average to a team-high .450. Another Loper scored in the inning thanks to a walk, single and St. Cloud error.
St. Cloud State (5-1) countered with three unearned runs in the bottom of the inning. Two infield singles, two errors and a wild pitch were the culprits with Colorado senior Erin Hallman striking out four and allowing no earned runs in three innings of work.
UNK added two insurance runs in the sixth and then scored again in the seventh. Senior center fielder Alexis Ray smacked a leadoff triple down the right field line to start the sixth with a single by sophomore shortstop Abbie Vodicka (2 for 3) bringing her home.
