Box Score Kearney, Neb.  – The Nebraska-Kearney softball team pounded out 16 hits to stave off Winona State, 11-9, Friday afternoon at the RMAC/NSIC Crossover Tournament in Pueblo, Colo.

The Lopers improve to 1-2 while the Warriors fall to 1-1. Earlier in the day, WSU blitzed RMAC-member Colorado-Colorado Springs, 9-0 (5 innings).

UNK jumped to a 7-1 lead after two innings thanks to a five-run second that featured five hits and a key Winona error. Senior 2b Ali Seberger (Lexington), as part of a 2 for 4 day, had the key hit, a one out, two-run single to right that finished the scoring.

Winona quickly come back, however, hitting three homers in the top of the third to tie things at seven. After the Lopers moved ahead 8-7 in the fourth, the Warriors led off the fifth with a solo homer to knot the score again.

Kearney moved ahead for good in bottom of the fifth when freshman shortstop Mallory Noakes (Lincoln SW) belted a one out, two-run double to center. Noakes, from the three hole, finished 3 for 4 with three runs and three RBI's.

McCook senior Kirstie Hiatt earned the win in relief, fanning two and allowing two earned in 4.1 innings. Seberger led the team in RBI's (four) while senior 1b Dani Mowinkel (Scribner) went 3 for 3 with two runs from the nine hole and three other Lopers collected two hits a piece.

UNK plays NSIC-member Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.) tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. Central and then RMAC newcomer Black Hills State (S.D.) at 3:00 p.m.