Kearney, Neb. - Senior shortstop Blake Cover became Nebraska-Kearney's all-time leader in hits as the Lopers swept Colorado State-Pueblo, 8-5 and 9-5, Sunday afternoon at a very windy Memorial Field.

UNK has won nine straight and 11 of 12 to be at 30-15 for the season. By sweeping this weekend's three-game series, the Lopers are now in first place in the Plains Division with an 18-11 mark.

The ThunderWolves slip to 21-20 and are in second place in the Plains (15-13 RMAC).

Today's action started with the completion of Saturday's game that was suspended due to rain in the top of the eighth with the Lopers ahead 6-5.

With two outs in the eighth, Cover (Kearney Catholic) made a diving catch of a line drive off the bat of Zach Hoffman that likely prevented the tying run from scoring. After junior OF Brian Chritz (2 for 3, two runs) led off the bottom of the inning with a walk, Cover hit a sharp single to right.

That marked his 253rd career hit, breaking the school record of 252 (Travis Kerkman, 2003-06). Cover would go on to have two hits in the second game to push his hitting streak to 22 straight, the longest such streak by a Loper since game records became available in 1996.

A two-out single from junior 3b Luke Valerius (3 for 4, three RBI's) would tack on two insurance runs in   the UNK eighth and then Omaha junior Jake Kresse nailed down his third save of the year by allowing one hit in two innings of relief.

In the series finale, UNK rallied for the third straight time as Pueblo scored two unearned runs in the second to grab a 2-0 lead. The Lopers would eventually lead 3-2 and 4-3 but an RBI ground out in the top of the sixth from Pueblo lead off hitter Mark Sayas tied things at four.

UNK busted things open in the bottom of the inning as they scored five times thanks to three hits and two T-Wolf errors. Junior Luke Stamp (Persia, Ia.), pinch hitting for Arapkiles, hit a bloop triple down the right field line that capped the big inning.

Junior Todd Stachura (Scotia) had a strong solid outing with Kresse getting the win in relief.

Next up on the schedule, UNK will host Hastings College Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. The teams will finish an April 6th game with UNK lead 7-2 in the top of the third. Once that is done, the clubs will play a seven-inning game.

Regis will then come to town for a three-game RMAC series next weekend that will end the regular season.