Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – Fort Hays State pitchers Paxton Duran and Kesley Kimminau shut out Nebraska-Kearney over the final 10 innings to sweep a double header, 9-8 and 4-0, Saturday evening in Kansas.
 
With the wins, the Tigers (26-23, 14-12) secure the eighth and final spot in this year's MIAA Tournament. UNK (17-28, 11-5) saw a five-game win streak snapped and finishes the season 9-10 in true road games.
 
Needing a sweep to make the postseason, things started off great for the Lopers. Taking advantage of an error, UNK scored five unearned runs in the top of first in game one. Junior third baseman Makenzi Dallas (Phoenix, Ariz.) had the big blow, a three-run double to center.
 
The good news continued as junior catcher Erin Dwyer (2 for 3, two runs) and junior first baseman Kate Ruwe (3 for 4, two RBI's) had run scoring hits in the second. However, Hays struck for six in the bottom of the second, three on homer by center fielder Amanda Vaupel, to tie things at seven.
 
A Ruwe RBI double gave UNK the lead back in the fourth but the Tigers used three infield singles and a sac bunt to tie things up again in the sixth. Later in the inning, second baseman Kylie Strand had an RBI ground out to provide the winning margin.
 
From the leadoff spot, Ralston sophomore Taylre Keenan went 2 for 4 with a run scored while Arizona junior Cassie Roessing (Phoenix, Ariz.) fell to 13-10 as she struck out three in throwing 103 pitches.
 
Duran (11-13) struck out eight, walked just one and shut out UNK over the final three innings.
 
In the nightcap, Kimminau – a Minnesota transfer – upped her season mark to 13-9 by throwing a complete game three-hit shutout. She walked four, fanned four and gave up just two singles and a Ruwe (Blair) double.
 
First baseman Tori Beltz paced the Tigers on offense, going 3 for 4 with two runs, two RBI's and her 10th homer of 2015.  
 
For UNK, Colorado freshman Meg Housholder was the tough luck loser, allowing just one earned run over six full innings. She gave up seven hits and walked three while fanning three Tigers.
 
The two clubs play a non-conference double header Sunday afternoon at Dryden Park. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m