Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Fremont junior
Michael Hahn threw four scoreless innings and four different players had two or more RBI's to help Nebraska-Kearney defeat Missouri Western State, 11-6, Sunday afternoon at Memorial Field.
The two teams split the weekend series with the Lopers (19-12, 13-11) taking the final two.
Both starters struggled early as UNK struck for three in the first thanks to an RBI bunt by junior third baseman
Danny Droll (Penrose, Colo.) and a two-run double from senior DH
Jayke Brock (2 for 5).
However, Western (15-14, 11-11) scored four times in the top of the second to take the lead. For the second straight day, catcher Jake Schraeder (2 for 4, thee RBI's) went deep as he hit a two-run shot to center with second baseman Dylan Koch adding a two-run single.
Schraeder, the five hole hitter, hit a solo homer in the fifth as well.
UNK moved ahead for good with a three-run fourth that featured a two-run triple off the bat of junior second baseman
Coby Roming (1 for 3, three runs).
Clinging to a 6-5 lead, the Lopers added three big insurance runs in the seventh as freshman shortstop
Josh Kiger (2 for 6) hit a two-run double to left center. Earlier, freshman left fielder
Brent Kirsch (3 for 5, three RBI's) had a run scoring single.
Western did make things interesting by scoring once in the eighth. With two down and the bases full, North Platte sophomore
Joe Smidt came in and got a ground ball out to get out of the jam.
The Lopers then salted things away by scoring two more times in the bottom of the inning. A hustling Roming (Canyon, Texas) scored the final run on an infield single by Kirsch (Papillion-LaVista South H.S.).
Hahn, improving to 3-2, allowed three earned and struck out five in 5.1 innings with Lincoln freshman lefty
Daniel LeDuc fanning four in 2.1 innings. Smidt, now with three saves this spring, didn't allow a run in 1.1 innings.
Also, junior center fielder Brandon Landaner (Kearney H.S.) went 3 for 5 from the lead off spot with sophomore
Anthony Pacheco (Kearney Catholic H.S.) drawing two intentional walks.
Kearney is at Northeastern State next weekend
