HAWKS LAUNCH SEVEN HOMERS IN SWEEP OF REDTAILS ON SOPHOMORE DAY

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College softball team hosted Hawkeye Community College Saturday at Ta-Ha Zouka in Norfolk as part of their Sophomore Day. The Hawks swept both matchups by final scores of 12-6 and 11-10.

Northeast (5-36, 2-24 ICCAC) saw an offensive explosion throughout the afternoon as Amanda Quintana-Gonzales (Denver, Colo.), Grace Sievers (Gibbon, Neb.) twice, Kelsey Choplin (Gibbon, Neb.), Malika Monroe (Valentine, Neb.) twice and Lauren Marker (Kearney, Neb.) all blasted home runs during the course of the two showdowns.

The RedTails pushed two runs across in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead late in Game 2, but the Hawks weren't going to go down without a fight. Sievers doubled to begin the bottom of the seventh frame before Lauren Lucero (Berthoud, Colo.) grounded out to the Hawkeye shortstop. Sievers waited until the RedTails threw the ball to first base and then took off to third base. When the Hawkeye first baseman threw the ball to third it rolled all the way to the outfield and Sievers was able to sneak home to secure the sweep of the day.

STAT SHEET GAME 1:

Amanda Quintana-Gonzales (Denver, Colo.): 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI

Kelsey Choplin (Gibbon, Neb.): 4-4, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI

Grace Sievers (Gibbon, Neb.): 1-3, HR, R, 3 RBI

STAT SHEET GAME 2:

Malika Monroe (Valentine, Neb.): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

Lauren Marker (Kearney, Neb.): 2-4, HR, 3 RBI

Grace Sievers (Gibbon, Neb.): 2-3, HR, 3 R, RBI

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Softball Coach Erin Sharpe on taking two victories today:

"The girls came with a different energy today," Sharpe said. "They were determined from the get-go and that mindset is what got it done."

Sharpe on sending her sophomores out with a victory on Sophomore Day:

"I believe the girls saw today as a reason bigger than themselves," Sharpe said. "I think today brought a little more hope for the girls and confirmed the belief that they had within themselves."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will host Ellsworth Community College in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Monday at Ta-Ha Zouka Park in Norfolk.

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