Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior Ross Mortensen threw five scoreless innings and senior center fielder Brandon Landanger had five RBI's to power Nebraska-Kearney to an 8-5 win over Wayne State Wednesday night at Memorial Field.
 
With the win, the Lopers improve to 25-15 while the Wildcats fall to 15-18.
 
Making his fifth start of the season, Mortensen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) gave up six hits and didn't walk a batter in staking UNK to a 2-0 lead. Wayne did load the bases in the first but a strike out and pop got Mortensen (3-2) out of the jam.

 
A sac fly from Landanger (Kearney H.S.) in the second began the scoring. UNK tacked on another run in the fifth when senior catcher Max Ayoub (Grand Island H.S.) laced a double to left center to bring home junior left fielder Anthony Pacheco (2 for 5, two runs).
 
The Wildcats were about to be shut out for six straight innings but, instead, managed to hit two doubles and a single to quickly tie things up.
 
UNK responded in kind in the bottom of the inning as two walks and a bunt single loaded the bases with no outs. The Loper leadoff hitter, Landanger quickly unloaded them as he drove the first pitch he saw over the center field wall for his seventh bomb of the season.
 
North Platte junior closer Joe Smidt fanned two in the ninth to pick up his seventh save of the spring. Junior John Watson (Shawnee, Okla.) also threw a scoreless seventh for UNK.
 
This weekend (Sat.-Mon), UNK hosts the Lindenwood Lions.