Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – Junior Brittnie Kreiser threw a complete game four-hitter and junior third baseman Sarah Rome drove in two runs to help Nebraska-Kearney beat NW Missouri State, 3-1, in the second game of a double header on a very windy Friday afternoon at Dryden Park.
 
The Bearcats scored three unearned runs to take the first game, 3-2 (10 innings).
 
Playing at home for only the second time all season, UNK (7-19, 2-8) found themselves down 1-0 in the night cap after Northwest catcher Kylie Cantrell hit a two-out RBI single in the second.
 
The Lopers quickly responded as Rome (Blair) belted her fourth homer of the year with two down in the bottom of the inning. The shot cut through a stiff breeze that blew in from right field all afternoon long.
 
UNK moved ahead for good in the third when redshirt freshman right fielder Makenzie Ault (Ovid, Colo.) drew a walk and then stole her 12th base in as many tries. With two outs, sophomore short stop Mallory Noakes (Lincoln SW) delivered an RBI single to right.
 
Rome (1 for 2) helped the Lopers add an insurance run in the sixth as she put down a successful squeeze bunt that scored pinch runner Mackenzie Tomlin (Grand Island) from third. On the play, Bearcat hurler Morgan Burnmeier threw home but Tomlin managed to slide underneath the tag.
 
Kreiser (Council Bluffs, Ia.) earned her second win as a Loper by shutting out Northwest over the final five innings. Besides allowing just four singles, she fanned three and didn't walk a batter.
 
In the early game, Northwest took advantage of three Loper errors to score two unearned runs in the top of the fifth. UNK was down to its final out when sophomore left fielder Kenzie Helmink (Fairbury) managed to beat out an infield single to give the Lopers hope.
 
Junior center fielder Whitney Frederick (2 for 4) laced a double to left center and then scored the tying run on a sharp single by Noakes (2 for 5).
 
However, with the international tie breaker taking effect, Northwest crossed home plate in its half of the 10th. With 'Cats at second and third and no out, second baseman Hailee Hendricks hit a bloop double to left center to score the winning run.
 
UNK had the same situation in the bottom of the 10th but Northwest turned a rare 6-3-2 double play to end the threat. Senior Jenna Creger (9-4) worked all 10 innings for the 'Cats, fanning seven and working around six hits and three walks.
 
The Lopers saw Grand Island sophomore Taryn Tropser give up zero earned in six full innings with Papillion senior Becky Dunn the loser despite allowing no earned in four innings of work.
 
Nationally-ranked Missouri Western State visits Saturday at one.