The UNK softball team is going back to the MIAA tournament for the second time in program history and the first time since 2022. This came after UNK split their final double-header of the regular season against rival Fort Hays State.
This team has had to overcome multiple obstacles in making it back to the MIAA tournament this season.
“This team has faced more adversity than any other team in the MIAA as far as what we have gone through as a program,” said Katie Ackerman, UNK softball coach. “Just losing our indoor facility, to taking reps on a gymnasium floor, having one cage inside the Health and Sports Center and losing our assistant coach and all the things combined. For them to persevere through all of it they should be very proud of themselves.”
UNK was coming off a four-game losing streak headed into their final double-header of the season. The Lopers came out on top in game one winning 4-1. Northwest Missouri State and Northeastern State both lost which punched UNK’s ticket to the MIAA tournament. Fort Hays took game two 6-3.
The last time UNK made it to the MIAA tournament the Lopers finished 2-2. UNK was the seven seed and upset the second seed Central Oklahoma 4-3 in the first round.
After four scoreless innings in game one, UNK opened the scoring in the fifth with three runs on five hits, including an RBI single from sophomore Alyssa Fortik. Senior Addy Deal also had a two-run double to help the Lopers gain the advantage. UNK added one more run in the sixth inning to come out on top.
Sophomore pitcher Daniella Morillas threw her fifth complete game. She threw 86 pitches with one strikeout, no walks and 10 ground ball outs.
This was UNK’s first victory against Fort Hays in Hays since 2018. When the Lopers beat Fort Hays 10-0.
The culture of this year’s team has played a big impact on their success.
“I think this year’s team has faced some hardships but they have continued to grind and have continued to lift each other up,” Ackerman said. “When they notice somebody’s down they pick us up in different ways just to carry us forward and I think it’s huge. It’s a really special group of human beings and a very special senior class that have truly imprinted themselves in this program.”
UNK will be the 10th seed at the MIAA tournament. The Lopers will face seventh seed Missouri Western in Hays on Wednesday. Missouri Western swept UNK at Dryden Park in March, 5-2 and 2-1. The winner will face the second seeded and nationally ranked Pittsburg State. The tournament is single elimination compared to double elimination and has two more teams compared to the last time UNK was in.
