Kearney, Neb. - Mesa State catcher Brett Nigbur went 3 for 6 with six RBI's, and the Mavericks scored seven runs after two were out in the fourth inning, to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 18-7, Saturday afternoon in an RMAC Tournament elimination game at Memorial Field.

The third-seeded Mavericks (35-17) are currently playing top-seed New Mexico Highlands in the championship game. If Mesa wins, the two teams will play on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

Hoping to tie the school record for wins in a season, UNK instead is now 36-18 on the year and on the NCAA bubble. The 48-team NCAA field will be announced Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. on www.ncaasports.com.

The Lopers entered the tournament sixth in the Central Region; six teams from each region make the field. UNK appeared in good shape against the Mavericks as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings. However, Mesa starting pitcher Scott Bachman got out of a couple of jams and the Lopers stranded four over the first two innings.

Mesa took control in the fourth when the had an eight run inning that featured four hits and four straight walks by UNK pitching. Seven scored after two were out with the big blow being a three-run double from Nigbur.

In a five-run Maverick fourth, Nigbur hit a three-run homer, his third dinger of the weekend. UNK did have 13 hits in the game but left a season-high 16 runners on base. In the tourney, a total of 46 Lopers were left stranded.

Junior 3b Luke Valerius (Golden, Colo.) capped a strong four games by going 5 for 5 while junior OF's Nick Arapkiles (Broomfield, Colo.) and Luke Stamp (Persia, Ia.) each went 2 for 4.