Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney baseball team used a nine-run sixth inning and two strong relief outings to beat Midland University, 14-7, Wednesday afternoon at Memorial Field.

This was the Lopers 2016 home opener.
 
Now winners of four in a row, UNK (5-6) trailed 5-0 after the first two innings. The Warriors (7-4-1) built its lead on the strength of seven hits, including solo home runs from first baseman Zach Belanger (3 for 3, two runs) and center fielder Cole Gray (2 for 5, two runs).
 
The Kearney comeback started in the fifth when four crossed home plate. The inning featured four hits, the biggest being a two-run double off the bat of junior catcher Kirk McLeod (2 for 3, three RBI's).
 
After junior starter Tanner Spencer (Craik, Saskatchewan) blanked Midland in the top of the fourth, senior Chris Sievers (Loveland, Colo.) and junior Sean Laughlin (Overland Park, Kan.) did the same over the next four innings. The pair combined for four strikeouts, no walks and just three hits.
 
UNK busted things open in the fifth on the strength of six hits, two Warrior errors and three walks. Senior shortstop Shane Sharkey (3 for 4, three runs) hit his team-leading fifth homer, a three-run shot, with junior second baseman Matt Salamon (2 for 4) having a two-run single.
 
Also for the Lopers, junior center fielder Easton Edmond (Lincoln S.W.) went 3 for 5 with two runs from the two hole.
 
This weekend, nationally-ranked Missouri Southern State (10-1) comes to town.