Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – Missouri Western State used 28 hits and five shutout innings from senior lefty Ethan Ward to sweep a double header from Nebraska-Kearney, 7-4 and 11-1 (7), Wednesday afternoon in Springfield, Mo.
 
These games were originally scheduled for St. Joseph, Mo., but moved South due to field conditions.
 
The Griffons (9-3, 5-0) scored three runs over the final three innings to win game one while pounding out 13 hits to take the night cap. By MIAA rule, the second game ended when Western led by 10.
 
In the first game, UNK (5-7, 5-4) got RBI singles from senior right fielder Brian Wuest (3 for 4) and sophomore second baseman Danny Droll (2 for 4) to quickly take a 2-0 lead. The Lopers then tied the game at three in the fourth after junior third baseman Mike Kattula (Sterling Heights, Mich.) brought home a run with a fielder's choice.
 
However, Western scored a run in its half of the fourth, tallied two more in the fifth and one in the sixth. Finishing with 15 hits, the Griffons saw senior third baseman Grant Fink go 2 for 3 with three RBI's with senior Brandon Simons (3-0) allowing three earned in 5.1 innings.
 
Ward (1-0) struck out five and allowed just two hits in throwing five full innings. Relievers Mark Spreckles and Kyle Kelly then combined to walk four, but allow just one hit, in two innings.
 
At the plate, the Griffons scored three unearned runs in the second and then took advantage of five walks to score seven in the fourth. Fink (2 for 4) had another good game as did senior Kyle Simpson (4 for 5, two RBI's).
 
UNK plays Truman State Friday (9:30 a.m./12:30 p.m.) and Saturday (2:30 p.m.) in Pittsburg, Kans.