Kearney, Neb. – Senior outfielder Daren Grace hit a walk off single in game one, and senior Roy Metter fanned nine in game two, to help the 21st-ranked Nebraska-Kearney baseball team sweep Colorado Mines, 9-8 and 10-1, Friday night at Memorial Field.

UNK (16-5, 11-2 RMAC) has won seven straight while the Orediggers fall to 4-19 (2-11 RMAC).

Due to weather, the series featured two games today with first pitch coming at 4:00 p.m. The teams will decide Saturday morning the schedule for the rest of the weekend.

On a day when temps didn't get above the mid-30's, game one was a back and forth affair that saw each team hold the lead several times. Mines forced the last tie as they managed to come back from an 8-6 deficit by scoring single runs in the seventh and ninth innings.

Their eighth and final run scored on the strength of an RBI single from third baseman Bret Payne with one out in the ninth. The inning featured two errors by the Lopers but senior Jake Kresse (Bennington) managed to get a come backer and line out to keep things tied.

In the bottom half of the of the inning, senior OF Patrick Oliver (Broomfield, Colo.) and senior third baseman Luke Valerius (Lakewood, Colo.) drew back to back walks with one out. Up to this point, Grace (Blair) was the only UNK starter not to have registered a hit.

He quickly changed that with a deep shot to left center that easily scored Oliver. Kresse earned the win by allowing one run in 2.2 innings while three Lopers knocked in two runs a piece, including senior DH Tim Urban (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) and senior OF Jason Trulin (Blair).

Finally, senior Todd Stachura (Scotia) gave up nine hits but allowed just two earned runs over the first 6.1 innings.

UNK made sure there would be no drama in the nightcap as they scored seven times, thanks to six hits, in the bottom of the first. Mines starter pitcher Blake Dunham lasted just 2/3 of an inning as 13 Lopers came to bat in the first.

Metter (Phoenix, Ariz.) did the rest, fanning seven over the final four innings while walking no one and giving up only five hits. He is now 4-1 on the year with a team-best 1.45 ERA. At the plate, Grace (2 for 2, three runs, two RBI's) led the way with senior OF Brian Chritz (Arvada, Colo.) and senior catcher Felix Segovia (Las Vegas, Nev.) each knocking in two runs.