NO.7 EAGLES HEADED TO NATIONAL TOURNAMENT

North Platte, Neb. - The Kirkwood softball is heading back to the NJCAA national tournament after winning the district title Saturday in Nebraska.

The seventh-ranked Eagles spanked North Platte Community College, 12-1 and 10-5, and will head to the Division II national tournament in Alabama with a 52-10 record.

Kori Wedeking (28-3) tossed a three-hitter with nine strikeouts in the 12-1 victory in five innings in the opener.

Reagan Schutte belted two home runs and drove in seven runs. Olivia Richards, Sydney Albaugh, Emilee Linder, Angie Gorkow and Brooke Kilburg also socked homers. Albaugh was 3-for-4. Linder went 2-for-4.

Albaugh, Randyn Carter, Peggy Klingler and Schutte scored twice.

Payton Akers (19-4) pitched a complete game with 12 strikeouts in the second game. Albaugh went 4-for-5 and scored twice. Austyn Crees was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Carter, Klingler and Kilburg had two hits. Carter scored twice.

North Platte finished the season with a 15-29 record.

The national tournament will be held in Oxford, Ala., from May 25-29. Kirkwood placed at the national tournament in 2019.

Kirkwood leads the nation with 124 home runs in 62 games. Wedeking leads the nation with 28 victories.