Nebraska-Kearney 4 Wayne State 3

            Nebraska-Kearney scored two runs in the top of the seventh to edge Wayne State 4-3 Monday afternoon at the 2022 Washburn Invitational Softball Tournament in Topeka, Kansas.  WSC drops to 2-10 with the loss while UNK improves to 4-9.
            The Wildcats started strong, holding a 3-0 lead after two innings of play.  Senior Kortney Buresh singled and later scored on a Kamryn Sparks RBI groundout for the first inning run.
            WSC added two runs in the second inning as Natalie Arbizu and Riley Holmberg each singled with both runners scoring on an Alle Perea two-run single to put the 'Cats ahead 3-0.
            After recording four hits in the first two innings, the Wildcat bats went quiet producing two hits the rest of the way.
            Nebraska-Kearney reduced the Wayne State lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning to make the score 3-2.
            The score remained 3-2 in favor of Wayne State until the Lopers came up with two runs in the top of the seventh inning on one hit and Wildcat error to take a 4-3 lead.
            WSC got a two-out base runner in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a UNK error but could not get the tying run to score at UNK held on for the 4-3 win.
            Wayne State had one more hit than UNK 6-5.  The six hits by the Wildcats were all singles by six different players.  Perea had a two-run single while Buresh, Vidlak, Sparks, Arbizu and Holberg each singled.
            Freshman Sami Felt suffered the pitching loss in three innings of relief, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts.  Starter Hadley Chvatal pitched the first four innings and gave up two earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
            Wayne State was slated to play Fort Hays State Monday afternoon in the final game of the 2022 Washburn Invitational.