UNK season ends with loss at RMAC tourney; Michelle Gaunt named all-tourney
GOLDEN, Colo. -- The University of Nebraska-Kearney softball team saw its run in the 2008 RMAC Tournament come to an end Sunday morning as the second-seeded Adams State Grizzlies used a seven-run fourth inning to beat the Lopers, 14-8, in Golden, Colo.
Winning a fourth straight elimination game, Adams (38-20) would win another as it beat Fort Lewis, 5-3, in the first championship game later on Sunday. However, the fifth-seeded Skyhawks (28-24-1) rebounded in the second and final title game to win the tournament, 5-2.
Seventh-seeded UNK, which had two wining streaks of seven games this year, along with an 11-game skid, ends the season at 22-28. This marks the third straight year in which the Lopers went 2-2 in the RMAC Tournament.
Adams, among the best offensive teams in the league all year, jumped out to a 3-0 first inning lead thanks to two hits, a walk and Loper error. A double by senior Molly Langerak cut the lead to two in the bottom of the inning but the Grizzlies put things away with a seven-run explosion in the fourth.
After scoreless second and third innings by both teams, Adams had five consecutive batters reach base after two were out in the fourth. Cleanup hitter Courtney Davis started the outburst with a three-run double, then catcher Kymber Keith hit a two run homer to cap the two our tally.
In the next two innings, two run homers by Shannon Galanek (3 for 5) and Keith (2 for 4) padded the Grizzlies lead.
UNK tallied two runs in three straight innings. Senior Michelle Gaunt, a McCook High School alum, and freshman Jessie Thomas each collected two hits with Gaunt also scoring twice.
Gaunt and Langerak would represent UNK on the all-tournament team. Fort Lewis pitcher Cary Moone was named MVP; she threw every inning (36.0) for the Skyhawks in the tournament.