Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney baseball team scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to slip past Colorado Christian, 9-6, Thursday afternoon at Memorial Field.

Due to the Easter Holiday this weekend, all RMAC series have been moved up one day. UNK is now 24-11 (20-7 RMAC) while the Cougars fall to 6-32 (2-27 RMAC).

In a game that featured five lead changes and three ties, the two teams combined for 30 hits but 19 runners left on base.

After CCU scored three in its half of the seventh to take a 6-4 lead, the Lopers came back in the bottom of the set to tie things for the final time.

Christian reliever Austin Bell came in and promptly walked senior 1b Andrew Haake (3 for 3),  surrendered a single to senior DH Felix Segovia (3 for 5) and gave up a bunt single to senior OF Jason Trulin (Blair), who was just trying to sacrifice the runners over.

Sophomore catcher Chandler Klute (3 for 5) then greeted third baseman turned pitcher AJ Begay with a double down the line that knotted things at six.

The Cougars loaded the bases, thanks to an error, walk and infield hit, in the top of the eighth but senior Jake Kresse (Bennington) got Begay to pop up to center to end the inning.

The Lopers wasted little time in taking the lead back as senior shortstop G.J. Henry (Denver, Colo.) led off the bottom of the inning with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt from senior 2b Jordan Mitchelhill (2 for 4).

Senior RF Patrick Oliver (2 for 4) followed with a single to center to provide the winning run. Later, Haake (Beatrice) doubled to right to score another Loper and Trulin knocked in a run with a fielder's choice.

All nine UNK starters had at least one hit with six having two or more. Kresse earned the win by throwing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.

The two teams will play a double header Friday starting at 1:00 p.m. and then finish the series Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m.