UNK 5, FLC 2
UNK 2, FLC 0

KEARNEY, Neb. — One of the nation's most explosive offenses was shut down by one of its hottest teams Saturday at Dryden Park as Nebraska-Kearney (24-20 overall, 21-13 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic  Conference) swept Fort Lewis (24-23, 22-16) 5-2 and 2-0 to all but end FLC's chances of winning its first-ever RMAC regular season title.

“We had good pitching performances all day,” said second-year FLC head coach Kira Zeiter. “We look forward to making some adjustments at the plate to get back to hitting the ball the way we know how, and get back to playing solid Fort Lewis softball.”

Kirstie Hiatt (13-9) held the Skyhawks to two runs (one earned) and nine hits in the opener to outduel FLC's Alexis Villegas (6-8), who surrendered just one earned run and six hits to take the loss.

The Skyhawk defense committed three errors behind Villegas, none bigger than a misplayed fly ball in the fifth that helped the Lopers score a pair of unearned runs and take a commanding 4-1 lead.

Fort Lewis' Erica Conley went 3-for-3, while Cierra Walters and Chelsea Rodriguez were each 2-for-3 in the opening loss.

Austin Wilson was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs to pace UNK's offense in game one.

Becky Dunn (10-7) threw a four-hit shut in the nightcap, striking out five Skyhawks.

Fort Lewis' Kassie Haubert (9-6) was the hard-luck loser in game two, turning in a strong, two-run, six-hit effort and striking  out four.

Wilson led off the first inning with a double and scored two batters later when Mallory Noakes drove her in on a fielder's choice to provide UNK with all the offense it would need.

The Lopers had a two-out rally in the fifth to add an insurance run. Ali Seberger hit an RBI single to left to plate Whitney Frederick, who was hit by a pitch two batters earlier.

Nebraska-Kearney's Seberger and FLC's Walters were the only players with multiple hits in the nightcap.

Fort Lewis will try and solve the RMAC's hottest team when they conclude their four-game set with the Lopers at 9 and 11 a.m. (MDT) today. UNK has won 16 of its last 18 league contests to move into third place on the regular season's final day.

Seven teams, including the Skyhawks and Lopers, have a mathematical shot of winning or sharing the RMAC regular season crown depending on today's results. The current league standings have Colorado Mines (24-14, .632) in first, trailed by Colorado State-Pueblo (23-14, .622), Nebraska-Kearney (21-13, .618), Colorado Christian (23-15, .605), Metro State (21-15, .583), Fort Lewis (22-16, .579), and Colorado Mesa (22-16, .579). All seven have clinched spots in next week's RMAC playoffs.

Regis (18-16, .529), Adams State (20-18, .526), and UC-Colorado Springs (19-19, .500) are all fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot.