Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney softball swept a doubleheader with Colorado-Colorado Springs, 6-3 and 5-1, on Sunday afternoon at Dryden Park.

With the wins, UNK also needed two wins from New Mexico Highlands over Fort Lewis and two wins from Mesa State over Adams State, to qualify for the RMAC Tournament at Metro State in Denver, Colo., next week.

In the final regular season standings, the Lopers had a league .425 win percentage with For Lewis at .421 and Adams coming in at .417. Highlands won their second game, 8-7, with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth while Mesa scored two runs in the top of the seventh to win 14-12 and put UNK into the postseason.

In game one in Kearney, the Lopers (15-28, 14-19 RMAC) got on the scoreboard first with a homer by junior 3B Cassie Keck (2 for 3, 2 RBI's) in the second inning.

UNK would score another run in the next inning off a homer from senior SS Kelsey Smith (2 for 4, 2 runs, 2 RBI's), her third of the spring.

UCCS (16-31, 14-25 RMAC) tied the game at two in the top half of the fifth on a homer by Jessika Anastos to right center. That marked her 17th long ball of the season.

In the bottom of the fifth, UNK took control by scoring four runs to take a 6-2.  Senior CF CF Alissa Larsen (2 for 4) started the big inning with a triple down the left field line. Smith would drive home Larsen on the next play with a single to left field.

Later, UNK would get RBI's from Keck and senior C Sara Dunn (Papillion), who reached first on a fielder's choice. Picking up the win was freshman Becky Dunn (5-9). She went the distance, striking out seven batters, while allowing three runs on nine hits.

UCCS would strike first in game two when Anastos belted her a homer over the centerfield fence in the second. 

UNK, however, came back to score two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore pitch hitter Allie Frost (Valley) got her first hit of the season on a single with the bases loaded to drive in the first run. The bases were still full when Smith came up to bat; she drew a walk to give the Lopers the lead for good.

Two passed balls in the third made it a three-run lead and then the Lopers got an insurance run in the fourth when junior DP Jessie Thomas (2 for 4) hit her eighth homer of the season.

Sophomore Kirstie Hiatt (8-11) picked up the win by going the distance. She allowed one run over seven hits while striking out three Mountain Lions.