Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Junior right hander Cory Ridenour struck out 10 over eight innings and the Nebraska-Kearney baseball team pounded out 17 hits to roll past New Mexico Highlands, 12-2, Sunday afternoon at Memorial Field.

On a rainy day, UNK (6-10, 5-3 RMAC) salvages the last game of the weekend series with the Cowboys (13-2, 7-1 RMAC).
Highlands scored 46 runs to win the first three games but the Loper pitchers stepped up late, allowing just six earned runs over the final 16 innings.

A transfer from Colby C.C. (Kans.) and a Bellevue West graduate, Ridenour earned his second win as a Loper by allowing just three hits and two walks. He had the 'Pokes fooled all day as six of his 10 K's were called third strikes.

Offensively, UNK pounded out 15 singles, took advantage of four Highlands errors and got some luck when a couple of balls hit the dry Memorial outfield and rocketed over the heads of the Cowboy outfielders.

In a five-run third, junior 1b Eric Ringblom (3 for 5, three runs, two RBI's) knocked in two with a triple to center that first hit the ground and flew over the head of center fielder Clay Mohr. 

Earlier in the inning, a single off the bat of junior third baseman Chase Saxton (Millard West) brought home an unexpected run when the ball got past left fielder Luis Saenz. That particular play happened all weekend as out fielders from both clubs struggled with the dry and choppy out field surface.

Besides Ringblom (Millard North), junior DH Tommy Barnes (Perry Hall, Md.) and junior RF Brian Wuest (Prosper, Texas) each had three hits and two RBI's. Also driving in two runs was redshirt freshman second baseman Logan Krueger (Holyoke, Colo.).

UNK hosts Regis next weekend.