Kearney, Neb. - Senior catcher Felix Segovia hit a walk off single -- his first hit of the Central Regional -- in the bottom of the 10th inning to help Nebraska-Kearney cap off another amazing comeback and beat Mesa State, 4-3, Monday evening in St. Cloud, Minn. 

The Lopers, who have now won a school record 38 games, play Winona State Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. with the winner advancing to the Division II World Series in Cary, N.C. That event begins Saturday with powerhouse Central Missouri, the South Central Region champ, awaiting.

On Sunday, UNK (38-18) beat the WSU Warriors 10-4 while Winona posted a 2-0 victory over the Lopers this morning to stay alive in the tournament.

Against Mesa (35-21), who went 5-2 vs. Kearney this year, the Lopers entered the bottom of the ninth down 3-1.

UNK had just nine hits in the loss to Winona and only five hits over the first eight innings against the Mavs, one being a solo homer from senior DH Daren Grace (Blair).

Mesa starter TIm Moore has had UNK's number all year but was driven from the game after walking Segovia (Las Vegas, Nev.) to start the ninth. Closer Taylor Hamilton, who also has had success against UNK, then entered.

Already this week, the Lopers has beaten closers from Minnesota State and Winona. The magic continued as, after Hamilton got a pop up, he gave up a single down the right field line, walked a batter and hit Grace to make it a 3-2 game. 

Cody Lahman relieved Hamilton, only to hit pinch hitter Chandler Klute (Kearney) to tie the game. With the bases loaded and one out, lead off hitter Jordan Mitchelhill (Australia) lofted a ball to left.

Senior Tim Urban (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) took off from the third and slid head first, only to be thrown out to end the inning. Thus, the teams moved to the tenth.

After senior closer Jake Kresse (6-2) retired the side in order in the top of the 10th, senior LF Brian Chritz (Arvada, Colo.) was hit by Lehman to start the bottom of the inning.

Against another Mesa pitcher, Derek Benham, senior 1b Andrew Haake (Beatrice) delivered his second sac bunt of the year, putting Chritz into scoring position.

Segovia ended the madness when he ripped an offering from Benham to left center. For the game, UNK had seven hits, with senior 3b Luke Valerius (Lakewood, Colo.) going 3 for 4 and Mitchelhill going 2 for 5.

"Emotionally exhausted but our kids kept playing and once again took advantage of another team's miscues and found a way to win," said head coach Damon Day. "There is no bonus points for pretty. In a tournament, you have to find a way to win. And tomorrow is the same as today; win and advance, lose and the season is over."

Working on only three days rest, Arizona senior Roy Metter allowed one earned run in 7.1 innings. Like his effort vs. Minnesota State last Thursday, he got out of several jams as he gave up seven hits and three walks while fanning four.

Mesa ended with 10 hits and left nine runners stranded. Some of those left on base came as the result of great Loper defense which turned three doubles plays and got "web jems" from Mitchelhill and Haake.