NORTHEAST BLASTS THREE HOMERS AND SWEEPS SOPHOMORE DAY AT HOME OVER THE WEEKEND

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College softball team hosted No. 14 Kirkwood Community College Friday and Hawkeye Community College Saturday at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park in Norfolk. The Hawks fell by final scores of 11-5 and 16-0 to Kirkwood before sweeping Hawkeye 3-2 and 10-2.

Northeast (20-27, 8-14 ICCAC) launched three homers in their first matchup of the weekend as Bailee Ahlemeyer (Cambridge, Neb.), Lauren Marker (Kearney, Neb.) and Rachel Hobbs (Hoskins, Neb.) all sent balls over the fence. Amy Lauby (Fairmont, Neb.) and Allie Funderburk (Starke, Fla.) also recorded hits against the nationally-ranked Eagles as the five runs were the most that Kirkwood had given up since April 9. The Hawks tallied six more hits in Game 2 of the day but were unable to scratch a run across the plate in the contest.

On Saturday, Northeast honored sophomores Funderburk, Talia Bandt (Grand Island, Neb.), Marker, Kaia Kollmar (Norfolk, Neb.) and Malika Monroe (Valentine, Neb.) as part of Sophomore Day. The Hawks gave the ball to Lauby and Hobbs in the circle and the pitching staff held the RedTails to just two runs. Lauby allowed just two hits throughout the ballgame and recorded three hits of her own at the plate.

In Game 2 of the day, Ahlemeyer twice, Delaney Kruse (Wayne, Neb.) twice, Emilee Sirdoreus (Laramie, Wyo.), Monroe and Bandt all doubled and the Hawks had 21 hits during the showdown. Raburn struck out eight different batters as Northeast will now look ahead to their final matchups of the season at home on Tuesday.

STAT SHEET GAME 1 AGAINST KIRKWOOD:

Rachel Hobbs (Hoskins, Neb.): 1-3, HR, R, 3 RBI

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

Bailee Ahlemeyer (Cambridge, Neb.): 1-3, HR, R, RBI

STAT SHEET GAME 2 AGAINST KIRKWOOD:

Rachel Hobbs (Hoskins, Neb.): 2-3

Allie Funderburk (Starke, Fla.): 1-1, 2B

Isabel Raburn (Holdrege, Neb.): 1-2

STAT SHEET GAME 1 AGAINST HAWKEYE:

Rachel Hobbs (Hoskins, Neb.): 1-3, 2 RBI

Amy Lauby (Fairmont, Neb.): 3-3

Amy Lauby (Fairmont, Neb.): 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 K

STAT SHEET GAME 2 AGAINST HAWKEYE:

Bailee Ahlemeyer (Cambridge, Neb.): 3-4, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI

Delaney Kruse (Wayne, Neb.): 3-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI

Isabel Raburn (W) (Holdrege, Neb.): 6 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 8 K

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Softball Coach Erin Sharpe on what clicked in the sweep against Hawkeye:

"The energy was amazing," Sharpe said. "They really played for each other and played for the sophomores on Sophomore Day. I hope that we continue that energy throughout the rest of the season."

Sharpe on what her 2025 sophomore class has meant to her:

"They were here when I started last year, so they have been through the ups and downs of the program and the ups that we have had recently," Sharpe said. "They are the building blocks of the program."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will battle in their final home games of the season with a doubleheader against No. 4 Des Moines Area Community College at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. tomorrow at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park in Norfolk.

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