CHOPLIN SHARP IN CIRCLE FOR NORTHEAST IN BATTLE WITH IOWA LAKES

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College softball team played in front of their home crowd Wednesday in a doubleheader with Iowa Lakes Community College. The Hawks dropped the two matchups by final scores of 4-0 and 19-6.

Northeast (3-36, 0-24) starting pitcher Kelsey Choplin (Gibbon, Neb.) went the distance as she tossed all seven innings in the circle and only allowed two earned runs while striking out five Tritons batters. Lauren Marker (Kearney, Neb.), Malika Monroe (Valentine, Neb.) and Grace Sievers (Gibbon, Neb.) all recorded hits in the showdown.

The bats for the Hawks in Game 2 came alive as Maker twice, Ahdriana Medrano (Grand Island, Neb.), Talia Bandt (Grand Island, Neb.), Monroe and Sievers all were in the hit column for Northeast. The Hawks pushed four runs across the plate in the fourth inning and will now look ahead to the final weekend of the regular season with all four ballgames taking place at home.

STAT SHEET GAME 1:

Malika Monroe (Valentine, Neb.): 1-3, 2B

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

Kelsey Choplin (Gibbon, Neb.): 7 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 5 K

STAT SHEET GAME 2:

Talia Bandt (Grand Island, Neb.): 1-2, 3 RBI

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

Ahdriana Medrano (Grand Island, Neb.): 1-2, R, BB

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Softball Coach Erin Sharpe on the matchups Wednesday:

"We stayed in both games," Sharpe said. "I know the second game got away from us, but we fought and competed every inning."

Sharpe on what she is telling her squad before the final weekend of the regular season:

"My message to the team is to relax and remember why you play softball," Sharpe said. "Play for the reason you fell in love with the game and what keeps you showing up to the field every day."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will stay home this weekend starting with a doubleheader against Hawkeye Community College beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday at Ta-Ha Zouka Park in Norfolk.

HAWKS HAPPENINGS:

For all the latest information on Northeast Hawks Athletics, please visit northeasthawks.com. For updates and other exciting content, follow:

@northeastcchawks on Facebook

@northeasthawks on Instagram

@northeasthawks on TikTok

@NortheastHawks on Twitter/X

@NortheastCCSB on Twitter/X