Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Emporia State baseball team scored runs in four straight innings and took advantage of seven errors to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 9-5, Saturday afternoon at Memorial Field.
 
With the win, the Hornets (15-14, 13-11) take the series from the Lopers (15-13, 15-11).
 
UNK grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when senior infielder Brando Pacheco (2 for 4) brought home sophomore center fielder Brandon Landanger (3 for 4) with a two-out single to center.
 
However, the Lopers left two runners on in that inning and three more in the third. Emporia's Keith Picht (2-3) struck out four in 4.1 innings of relief work to earn the victory. Besides getting the Hornets out of the jam in the third, he blanked Kearney in the fourth and fifth innings.
 
Scoring six unearned runs in the win, ESU took the lead for good with a three-run third. They then added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before a three spot in the sixth.
 
From the nine hole, catcher Todd Reller went 3 for 4 with three runs with lead off hitter Jordan Slade going 2 for 4 with an RBI. Stealing six bases, Emporia also got two scoreless innings from relief pitcher Shawn Talkington.
 
For the Lopers, junior DH Jayke Brock (Grand Junction, Colo.) went 3 for 5 from the five hole and Grand Island sophomore Chayse Gulzow threw 2.2 innings of perfect relief.
 
UNK heads to Fort Hays State for a double header on Wednesday and then hosts Upper Iowa in a non-conference series next weekend.