Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – Senior Logan Willard improved to 6-0 and sophomore Joe Smidt recorded his 11th save as Nebraska-Kearney won the second game of a double header, 4-2, with Missouri Southern State Friday evening at Memorial Field.

The Lions (24-25, 17-22), now eliminated from the MIAA Tournament race, hit three homers in the first game to win going away, 16-6.

UNK (29-17, 23-16), dropping to sixth in the MIAA standings after tonight's games, scored a run in the second, two in the third and one more in the sixth to pull out a much needed victory.

A transfer from Indiana State, Willard (Eagle Grove, Ia.) almost threw his second complete game of 2014 as he allowed eight hits and walked one in 6.2 innings.

Fanning two, he shut out Southern in four innings but departed after the Lions hit two singles to left in the top of the seventh. Smidt (North Platte) came in and promptly punched out Axel Johnson to end the game.

Smidt, who hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 12.1 innings, ties the UNK single season save record, first set by Jake Kresse three years ago.

UNK moved ahead for good in the third on the strength of three hits and one of Southern's three errors. Colorado senior Jayke Brock delivered a two-out RBI single to right to make it a 3-1 Loper lead.

MSSU starter Payton Walker (5-5) threw well, allowing just two earned in 5.1 innings. However, he did plunk back-to-back batters in the sixth to finish the scoring.

In game one, three Lions who hadn't hit a homer all year did so, including a Grand Slam by nine hole hitter Austin White in a seven-run first.

First baseman Brett Graham (3 for 4, three runs & three RBI's) and second baseman Brandon Weller (2 for 3, three runs & three RBI's) also had big efforts at the plate with Ryan Bates (4-3) having no walks in throwing a complete game.

Brock (Grand Junction, Colo.) went 3 for 4 with sophomore DH Drew Butler (Kearney) 2 for 3 with an RBI.

The regular season finishes up tomorrow with a single game at 1:00 p.m.