Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney softball team won a third straight RMAC series by taking three of four from Colorado Mesa this weekend in Grand Junction, Colo.

The Lopers (22-20, 19-13 RMAC), now 11-1 in its last 12 league games, swept Sunday's contests by scores of 8-2 and 4-2 after winning the series opener, 7-6, on Saturday.

Mesa (23-17, 21-15 RMAC) scored two in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the second game of the series, 3-2.

In Sunday's first game, Bennington sophomore Bailey Backhuus earned her first win by allowing one earned run in 4.2 innings of relief. She got out of a bases loaded situation in the third thanks to a fielder's choice and a fly out.

UNK came back from a 1-0 hole by scoring four in the fourth, two in the fifth and two more in the sixth. Senior 1b Dani Mowinkel (2 for 4) hit a three-run shot, her seventh of the year, in the fourth with sophomore catcher Jen Kramer (3 for 4) going deep to start the fifth.

Senior 2b Ali Seberger (Lexington) and freshman SS Mallory Noakes (Lincoln SW) also had big efforts at the plate, going a combined 4 for 5 with two RBI's and a run scored.

Papillion junior Becky Dunn (9-7) powered the Lopers to a game two win as she allowed two earned in 5.1 innings. Backhuus earned a rare save by blanking the Mavs over the final 1.2 innings.

UNK broke 1-1 tie in its half of the sixth when sophomore 3b Sarah Rome (Blair) belted her eighth dinger of the year, a three-run shot to left. Mesa actually out hit the Lopers, nine to five, but stranded nine, including two in the seventh.

From the lead off spot, senior CF Austin Wilson (McCook) went 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Wilson, Backhuus, Rome and Seberger each hit homers to help UNK win the opener. Down 3-0, the Lopers moved ahead for good thanks to a four-run fourth and a two-run fifth. 

McCook senior Kirstie Hiatt (12-9) went the distance, allowing six earned on seven hits, five walks and six strikeouts. Mesa hit two homers in the game but left nine runners on base.

Finally, the Mavs took advantage of an error to win the second game of the series. Down 2-1 in the sixth, Mesa got a lead off single and then moved over the runner with a sac bunt.

A short single to left followed with the ball getting past a Loper out fielder. That allowed the tying run to score and also put a runner at third. Mesa promptly hit a sac fly to right to complete the game's scoring.

Dunn was the tough luck loser, allowing two earned in six full innings. She fanned two while walking none and giving up eight hits.  UNK mustered just four hits, including a double by Rome.

The Lopers host Wayne State Thursday and then Fort Lewis comes to town to close out the regular season