KEARNEY, Neb. – Chadron State softball split a doubleheader against in-state rival Nebraska-Kearney, losing 5-1 before winning 3-2 in CSC's final nonconference games of the year. 

The Eagles came from behind in the nightcap, scoring two runs in the fifth inning to tie the score and taking the lead for good in the sixth inning on Brogan Allen's tie-breaking solo home run. The day's results bring Chadron State's overall record to 9-13 on the season.

With Wednesday's doubleheader coming just two days after the conclusion of a delayed series with Black Hills State and with another RMAC series coming up this weekend, the Eagles used the nonconference games as an opportunity to rotate players.

Four CSC players – Devyn Thornton (LF in game one), Ella DeLozier (CF in game one), Brogan Allen (3B in game two) and Kendall Petty (RF in game two) – made their first appearances of the season in the starting lineup across Wednesday's action, while freshman pitcher Destrie Greiman made her first career collegiate start. 

Greiman performed well in her longest outing to date, pitching 4.1 innings against the Lopers while allowing just two hits and two runs, one earned. Greiman struck out two and walked five while lowering her season ERA to 5.00 in her fourth appearance of the season. 

Veteran Tori Haug came on in relief and pitched 2.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Haug was game two's winning pitcher after the Eagles' late rally. 

Trailing 2-0, Chadron State tied the score in the fifth when Elizabeth Thorngren led off with a double. A Katelynn Czerpak bunt single moved Thorngren over to third before a one-out sacrifice fly from Jazlyn Arvizo put the Eagles on the board. Ashland Baca then reached on an error, which allowed Czerpak to come around and score prior to Baca getting thrown at second trying to advance and ending the inning.

Allen gave the Eagles the lead by homering on a full count to lead off the sixth. Chadron State threatened by putting runners on second and third with one out later in the inning, but the Lopers escaped the jam. 

Haug did some tightrope walking of her own, keeping UNK off the scoreboard despite two walks and two hits in the inning with the help of a timely out on the bases. There would be less drama in the seventh inning, when after a one-out single, Haug struck out the final two batters of the game to seal the win. 

Game one featured a complete-game effort from Belle Akins in the loss. The freshman threw 121 pitches and went the full six innings, allowing five runs on nine hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Aliyah Rothstein drew a bases-loaded, two-out walk in the second inning to force home CSC's only run.

Chadron State, which has only played four of its opening 17 games at home, will return to its home ballpark this weekend for a four-game series with MSU Denver currently scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. First pitches are set for 12 and 2 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday.