Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Fremont junior Michael Hahn threw 5.2 strong innings and six different players had an RBI to help Nebraska-Kearney defeat Central Missouri, 8-2, Sunday afternoon at Memorial Field.
 
The Lopers (15-8, 9-7) won the final two games to split the series with the Mules (14-9, 11-5), a longtime MIAA and national powerhouse.
 
Scoring runs in each of the first three innings, Kearney saw Hahn (2-1) fan three and blank UCM over the first five innings. 
 
However, the Mules hit four balls – three singles and a sac fly – to right field to make it a 3-2 contest in the sixth. With two down and the bases loaded, Gering senior Carlos Palomo managed to get a pop up to first to stop the rally.
 
Getting a run back in the bottom of the inning, UNK salted things away by crossing home four times in the seventh. Senior DH Jayke Brock (2 for 4) capped a great weekend by hitting a two-run double to right center to finish the scoring.
 
Juniors Max Ayoub (Grand Island), Brandon Landanger (Kearney H.S.) and Coby Roming (Canyon, Texas) had two hits a piece with Wyoming junior Aaron Smith earning a save by tossing 2.2 of scoreless relief.
 
UCM had runners at second and third with one down in the seventh but Smith came on to get a strikeout and line out.
 
The Lopers head to Emporia State next weekend.