Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior Ross Mortensen threw four innings of strong relief and six different players had an RBI to help Nebraska-Kearney rally past Lindenwood, 9-7, Monday afternoon at Memorial Field.
 
The Lopers (28-16, 21-11) won the final three games of the series and are now in third place in the league standings. UNK is at fifth-place Washburn (26-17, 19-13) this weekend to complete the regular season.
 
With the wind blowing out to right field, the two teams combined for six home runs. The Lions used a first inning three-run shot from cleanup hitter Drew Quinones to lead 3-0 and later were ahead by scores of 6-3 and 7-5.
 
Senior catcher Max Ayoub (Grand Island H.S.) knotted the game at seven all in the fifth thanks to a two-run dinger to right. He now has 16 long balls, just three from tying the school record, set by Tom Bales in 1988.
 
In the sixth, UNK grabbed its first lead on an RBI double by sophomore right fielder Brent Kirsch (Papillion). The Lopers added an insurance later in the inning thanks to a sac fly by senior second baseman Coby Roming (Canyon, Texas).
 
Mortensen (4-2) entered the game in the fifth and gave up just one hit and didn't walk a batter while fanning three. This was his second victory in a week as he started last Wednesday night's 8-5 victory over Wayne State.
 
Offensively, senior center fielder Brandon Landanger (Kearney H.S.) went 4 for 5 with two runs and two RBI's from the leadoff spot with Ayoub and junior outfielder Anthony Pacheco (Kearney Catholic H.S.) also driving in two runs.  
 
Finally, North Platte junior Joe Smidt worked a scoreless ninth to record his eighth save.