Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Junior right hander Trey Ertmer threw 7.1 strong innings and  seven different players had a hit as Nebraska-Kearney upset 7th-ranked Missouri Southern State, 5-2, Friday afternoon at Memorial Field.
 
On a day where winds were gusting close to 30 miles per hour out to right field, UNK (5-6, 4-0) pushes its win streak to four in a row with the Lions falling to 10-2 (2-2).
 
Improving to 2-1, Ertmer (Elizabeth, Ill.) started his day in style by striking out the side in the top of the first. He tallied five more K's and allowed just three hits but had to work around five walks.
 
In the top of the third, two Lions walked with two down. Ertmer managed to get a fielder's choice to get out of the jam. Later, he surrendered a wind-aided, two-run homer to right with one of the runs being unearned.
 
"You have to tip your cap to Trey. That was a big time start against the seventh ranked team in the nation," said Day. "Our offense also helped him by getting some things going early on."
 
UNK scored a run in its first at bat thanks to two hits and a hit batter. The damage could've been greater but MSSU turned a 6-4-3 double play with the bases loaded. They turned two more, including one in the seventh to get out of another bases loaded jam.
 
However, the Lopers scored two in the third and two in the fifth to give Ertmer all the help he needed. Senior first baseman Connor Messinger (3 for 4, two runs, one RBI) had the most hits on the day with junior center fielder Easton Edmond (2 for 4) scoring three times.
 
Finally, senior right hander Jacob Dittman (Colo. Springs, Colo.) collected the save by throwing 1.2 scoreless innings.
 
The two games player another game Saturday afternoon.