Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Redshirt freshman right hander Julian Garcia threw seven strong innings and Metro State pounded out 12 hits to beat Nebraska Kearney, 6-2, Saturday afternoon in Denver.

The Roadrunners took two of three from the Lopers this weekend.

In his first collegiate appearance, Garcia struck out four, walked four and allowed just two hits. He shut out UNK for the first six innings as Metro built a 6-0 lead. Offensively, senior catcher Daryl Baca went 3 for 5 with senior center fielder Mitch Gibbons (2 for 5) and senior left fielder Chris Spirek (1 for 3) each driving in a pair of runs.

MSUD, drawing five walks, scored two in the fourth, one in the fifth and three more in the sixth. Eleven of the 'Runners 12 hits were singles with Gibbons supplying a double in the first.

UNK broke a 12-inning scoreless drought when the tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh. Junior third baseman Connor Messinger (Niwot, Colo.) brought in a run with a ground out with senior center fielder Brandon Landanger (Kearney H.S.) bringing home the second with a single to center.

On the mound, junior newcomer Trey Ertmer (Elizabeth, Ill.) fanned 10 in four innings. Allowing two earned on five hits and two walks, he struck out the side in the second and fourth innings. Finally, junior newcomer Jacob Dittman (Colo. Springs, Colo.) fanned one in two innings of relief work.

UNK heads to Texas next week for the QuickTrip D2 Classic.