Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – Junior newcomer Molly Stern knocked in two runs and sophomore Meg Housholder allowed two earned runs to help Nebraska-Kearney beat New Mexico Highlands, 6-4, Friday evening in Las Vegas, Nev.
 
The game was a part of the three-day Desert Stinger Tournament. Earlier Friday, Colorado-Colorado Springs tallied four runs in the first inning to beat the Lopers, 4-2.
 
Accounting for UNK's runs in game one thanks to a homer, Stern (Peoria, Ariz.) was 2 for 3 with a run scored in the night cap. In a five-run Loper third, the second baseman had a two-run double to right center.
 
Kearney erased a 1-0 deficit thanks to two walks, a Highlands error and a wild pitch in the big inning.
 
Housholder (Parker, Colo.) picked up her fifth career win as she worked around six walks and five hits over four full innings. Fanning two, she gave way to junior newcomer Kami Merrill.
 
The Canadian southpaw earned a rare save by allowing no earned runs and just two hits over the final three innings. In game one, the College of Southern Idaho transfer also was stellar in relief, having nine K's to only one walk in 5.1 innings.
 
UCCS managed to win thanks to five hits, including three doubles, in their first at-bat. Junior Stephanie Chitkowski went the distance, allowing four hits and walking four while fanning two.
 
The Lopers face the Mary Marauders from North Dakota at 1:30 p.m. Central on Saturday.