Story from KGFW’s Ethan McCormick
Kearney High Softball salvaged a doubleheader with Grand Island Thursday night. The Islanders won the opening game 15-8, and Kearney took Game 2 11-1.
Game 1 saw the Islanders jump out to a 2-0 lead, which stayed until the top of the fifth inning when the Bearcats brought home two to tie the game at 2-2. The Islanders would respond with four runs in the bottom half of the 5th to make it a 6-2 game. The sixth inning would be an offensive explosion for both teams as Kearney would score 6 in the top of the sixth and the Islanders would score 9 in the bottom half to push their lead to 15-8.
McKenzie Brennan, Olivia Wright, and Emily Drackley each had 2 RBI’s in game 1, while Kennedy Lee and Greeley Cargill both had an RBI.
Lauren Schmeits picked up the loss after going 4.2 innings, allowing seven hits and six runs (four earned) while striking out five.
Game 2 was a different outcome as the offense got going right away courtesy of a three-run Homerun from Alexa Jacobsen in the top of the first. The Bearcats would go on to score three runs in the first, three runs in the second, and five in the third inning. The Islanders would score one in the second off of a Lexie Perez single.
Avery Longshore pitched a complete game going four innings with one run (zero earned) and 1 strikeout.
Kelsey Hatcher went 3-3 with 2 RBIs, and Kennedy Lee went 1-3 with a stolen base and an RBI.
Kearney High moves to 17-10 on the year. Kearney is at the Lincoln Southeast Tournament tomorrow, and then travel to Hastings on Monday.
