Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney softball team won two games against the Colorado School of Mines, 9-2 and 13-12, on Saturday afternoon at Dryden Park.

In game one, the Orediggers (15-18, 11-13 RMAC) got on the scoreboard first thanks to a two-run homer off the bat of Sarah Lustgraaf.

The Lopers (8-19, 7-10 RMAC) would respond to score one run in the bottom half of the inning on a single that senior C Sara Dunn (Papillion) hit to right center, which scored sophomore 1b Dani Mowinkel (Hooper).

UNK, which stopped and eight-game losing streak Saturday, would tack on eight more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take control.

The Lopers would get three straight singles to load the bases for Dunn, who would hit another single to center, scoring senior SS Kelsey Smith(Blair) and Mowinkel. After Dunn's single, UNK would load the bases again and this time, freshman OF Taylor Fernau (Blair) hit a Grand Slam to right field giving UNK a seven-run lead. 

Freshman Becky Dunn (Papillion) pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out six Orediggers.

In game two, UNK would score four runs in the first inning thanks to a double by junior 3b Cassie Keck (Blair), which scored senior OF Alissa Larsen (Lincoln). Mowinkel would hit a single to left field to advance Keck to third. Then, on the next pitch, Keck would score on a throwing error by the Orediggers catcher. Smith followed with a two-run homer to right to cap the big inning. 

UNK would continue the offensive explosion, scoring five more runs in the third. Sophomore OF Austin Wilson (McCook) would hit the second Grand Slam of the day for the Lopers, a deep shot to center.

For both Wilson and Smith, these were the first home runs of the year.

Mines would come back, however, with nine runs over the next two innings. Seven of those runs came off the bat of 3b Molly Thiebaut (3 for 4, 7 RBI's), who hit homers in the fourth, fifth and seventh inning to make it just a one run Loper lead.

A ground out to third ended the long game, which featured 25 runs and 21 hits (six homers).

Sophomore Kristie Haitt (McCook) got the win going 4.2 innings and striking out three. Haitt would hand the game over to Dunn in the fifth after Thiebaut hit her second homer. Dunn would go rest of the way to pick up her first save of the season.

For the day, Mowinkel and Wilson went a combined 10 for 18 with seven runs batted in and seven runs scored.

UNK plays Colorado School of Mines in a doubleheader Sunday afternoon.