Kearney, Neb. - The NW Missouri State softball team got two strong pitching performances and pounded out 23 hits a double header sweep of Nebraska-Kearney, 8-2 and 5-2, Thursday afternoon at Dryden Park.

The Bearcats, led by former UNK assistant Ryan Anderson, improve to 16-13 while the Lopers drop to 6-19.

The day started well for UNK as senior CF Alissa Larsen (Lincoln) led of the bottom of the first with a triple to center. Blair freshman Taylor Fernau (2 for 4) then smacked her second homer of the year, a shot that landed well past the left field fence.

However, Northwest's Jenna Creger (7-8) settled down from there, finishing with seven K's and no walks over six innings. After the initial offensive outburst, UNK had just six hits the rest of the game.

The Bearcats tallied two in the second to tie things up and then moved ahead with a single run in the third. They then tallied two more in the fourth and three in the seventh.

A 12-hit attack was led by catcher Lauren Chatigny (3 for 4, 2 RBI's) and catcher Kristen Hessel (2 for 4, 2 RBI's).

Besides Fernau, junior DP Jessie Thomas (Yutan) went 2 for 3 with Larsen going 2 for 4.

In game two, Northwest tallied two runs in each of the first two innings. Freshman Becky Dunn (3-8) was strong after that, however, allowing only one run the rest of the contest.

Nicole Ackelson (6-3) blanked UNK for the first three innings before junior Cassie Keck (Blair), who started behind the plate, belted her ninth homer of the year with one out in the fourth.

She currently is third on the Lopers all-timer dinger list (26). Keck went on to finish 3 for 3 with 2 RBI's and a run scored.

UNK hosts Colorado Mines this Saturday and Sunday.