Kearney, Neb. – Junior Libby Balogh and sophomore Kelly Unkrich combined for three wins, and three complete games, to lead the Colorado School of Mines softball team to a series sweep of Nebraska-Kearney this weekend in Golden, Colo.

One of the top clubs in the Central Region, the Orediggers (23-14, 18-5 RMAC) swept Saturday's games by scores of 2-1 and 8-0 (6 innings). On Sunday, Mines won 3-1 with the series finale being canceled due to poor weather. That game will not be made up.

After these contests, the Lopers are now 9-20 (9-12 RMAC).

Balogh improves to 11-7 by winning the first and third games of the series. Over 14 full innings, she struck out 23 Lopers while walking just two and giving up nine hits and one earned run.

In each of these games, McCook junior Kirstie Hiatt (7-12) pitched well in defeat. Throwing two complete games, she allowed only five earned runs in with seven K's, six walks and five earned runs.

Mines edged Hiatt and UNK Saturday thanks to two, two out RBI singles.

In the bottom of the first, freshman shortstop Sami Springer reached first on an infield single that brought home leadoff hitter Brinley Benson. She had reached base after getting hit by a pitch.

After juniors Dani Mowinkel (Scribner) and Allie Frost (D.C. West H.S.) hit back-to-back doubles in the fifth to tied things at one, Mines used two hits and a wild pitch to score the winning run in the bottom of the inning.

Hiatt almost got out of a second and third, no out situation as she got a fielder's choice and strike out to keep the game tied. However, designated player Alyson Beck singled to center to provide the winning margin.

On Sunday, Mines scored all three runs off Hiatt in the bottom of the first. The only two hits in the inning were an RBI double from Springer and a two-run double from first baseman Sarah Lustgraaf (2 for 3).

The Lopers lone run came in the sixth and as the result of a Mines error. Lead off hitter Whitney Frederick (Blair) did go 2 for 4 in the loss.

Finally, Unkrich is now 12-6 after throwing a five hit shutout in Saturday's nightcap. Fanning four and walking none, she did plunk two Lopers.

Sophomore Becky Dunn (Papillion-LaVista South H.S.) kept pace for a while, blanking Mines through three innings. However, Lustgraff led off the fourth with a solo homer to center. She then capped a four run fifth with another dinger over the center field wall.

In between the homers, Mines got got a two-run triple from leftfielder Macy Jones (2 for 3, two runs, three RBI's). She was one of five 'Diggers to have two or more hits in the game.

For UNK, Blair senior Cassie Keck went 2 for 2 and had four assists in the field.

Next weekend, the Lopers host a mini-pod tournament, playing Western New Mexico Friday afternoon and Adams State Saturday. The Metro State Roadrunners will then play Western on Saturday morning and Adams on Sunday afternoon.