Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – The 21st-ranked Emporia State Hornets needed extra innings and a stirring comeback to sweep a double header from Nebraska-Kearney, 6-3 (8 innings) and 14-10 (9 innings), Saturday afternoon at Dryden Park.

The Hornets are now 19-4 (6-0 MIAA) while the Lopers fall to 3-13 (1-5).

Grand Island junior Taryn Trosper shut out E-State over the first 6.2 innings of game one. However, the Hornets scored three runs, all unearned, to force extra innings.

The rally started with a leadoff error. After a fielder's choice and ground out, a pinch hit RBI single gave the Hornets life and a run. A single, throwing error and another single tied the game.

In the top of the seventh, Emporia used four hits, including a two-run single from pitcher Kaitlyn Caston (2 for 4), and a walk to score three. Caston threw all eight innings to improve to 13-3.

UNK might've won the game in regulation but senior Sarah Rome's potential "Grand Slam" was caught at the fence by left fielder Andrea Piezuch in the fifth. On the play, senior Mackenzie Tomlin (2 for 5) was ruled to have left third base early, negating a Loper run.

Leadoff hitter Taylre Keenan (Ralston) went 3 for 4 with sophomore first baseman Katie Ruwe going 2 for 3). Finally, freshman shortstop Emily Jonas hit her first collegiate dinger.

The wild night cap featured 24 runs on 41 hits, five errors, four walks and a hit batter. UNK led 5-0 after two full but E-State scored three in the third, five in the fifth and two in the seventh to take a seemingly comfortable 10-5 lead.

However, the Lopers drew a walk and had six hits to force extra innings. Four scored after two outs with the big base knock being a two-run single by Rome (Blair).

The Lopers did leave runners at second and third when ESU got a pop up to end the inning.

Emporia used three singles and a UNK error to score four times in its half of the ninth. Right fielder Stephanie Goodwin (5 for 6, four RBI's & three runs) had the biggest blow, a two-run single to left.

A 19-hit Kearney attacked featured big efforts by Tomlin (4 for 6), sophomore DP Erin Dwyer (4 for 5, three RBI's) and senior catcher Jen Kramer (3 for 4).

UNK hosts Washburn in a double header. First pitch has been pushed back to 1:00 p.m. due to weather.