Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – Senior Dalton Cowen allowed one hit over six innings and a balanced offense help Nebraska-Kearney edge Emporia State, 3-1, in the first game of a double header Saturday in Kansas.

The Hornets (15-9, 11-8) scored runs in the sixth and seventh innings to rally past UNK (17-9, 11-8) in the night cap, 3-2.

Cowen (Gillette, Wyo.) improved to 4-2 by not allowing an earned run in six full innings. He allowed just a third inning single and worked around five walks and two hit batters by fanning three.

UNK never trailed, moving ahead in the fifth when junior catcher Max Ayoub (Grand Island) brought home junior second baseman Coby Roming (Canyon, Texas) with a two-out double to left center.

The Lopers tacked on an unearned run in the sixth when junior center fielder Brandon Landanger (Kearney H.S.) hit a two-out RBI single to center. North Platte sophomore Joe Smidt worked a scoreless seventh to earn his second save.

Senior Jayke Brock (Grand Junction, Colo.) and freshman Josh Kiger (Papillion-LaVista South H.S.) had two hits apiece to pace the offense.

Smidt was hoping to get another save as he entered the second game in the sixth with UNK up 2-1. With runners at first and second, he got a fly out but first baseman Aaron Gile (2 for 3) tied things with a single to right center.

A single and a one-out walk drove Smidt from the game in the seventh. The Hornet runners advanced on a wild pitch and then third baseman Jordan Hodges hit a high chopper against a drawn in infield to bring home the winning run.

For UNK, Iowa senior Logan Willard allowed only one earned run in 5.1 innings. At the plate, sophomore Anthony Pacheco and junior Kyle Honeycutt each had two hits.

Sunday's series finale has been pushed back two hours to 2:00 p.m.