Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Junior Max Ayoub hit a sharp single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth to help Nebraska-Kearney rally past Washburn, 2-1, Saturday afternoon at Memorial Field.
 
The two-run rally in the ninth helped the Lopers (24-15, 18-14) take three of four from the Ichabods (18-18-18, 1715). UNK, down to 10 healthy position players, had split four straight series.
 
It was a battle of right handers as Lincoln senior Adams Peters and Washburn's Eric Schmid each threw six shutout innings. 
UNK was poised to take the lead in the fourth when sophomore Anthony Pacheco (3 for 4) hit a double off the base of the right field wall.

However, a nice relay throw by second basemen Corey Gragg caught junior Danny Droll (2 for 4) at home plate.
 
The 'Bods finally broke the scoreless tie in the seventh when shortstop Tanner Johnson (2 for 4) hit a seeing-eye single to left that brought home third baseman Kyle Carnahan. He was plunked by Peters to start the inning.
 
Both teams finished with nine hits but Washburn stranded twice as many as UNK, 10-5. Both clubs also turned a total of three double plays to get out of several jams.

The 'Bods were hoping to turn its third in the ninth when junior second baseman Coby Roming (Canyon, Texas) laced a one-out single to right.
 
That drove Schmid from the game and brought in right hander Maustin Otterstatter. The Lopers greeted him by hitting three straight singles; one to center, another to left center and Ayoub's right up the gut.
 
North Platte sophomore Joe Smidt threw 1.2 scoreless innings to improve to 2-2 and run his scoreless innings streak to 11.0. He has five saves and two wins among his last eight appearances.  
 
Ayoub (Grand Island), playing first base today, finished 2 for 3.
 
UNK heads to Pittsburg State next weekend. Due to the Easter Holiday, that series will be Thursday-Saturday.