Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Sophomore designated hitter Tanner Triggs went 4 for 5 and junior pitcher Nick Silva remained unbeaten to help Washburn defeat Nebraska-Kearney, 10-4, Friday afternoon at Memorial Field.

This was the first of a three-game series. The Ichabods are now 16-12 (10-7) with the Lopers falling to 12-15 (9-9).

On a frigid day at the ball park, UNK rallied from an early 3-0 deficit as they scored three in its half of the third. The inning included four of the Lopers 10 hits, including an RB single by junior center fielder Jacob Richardson (2 for 5, one run).

However, Silva (6-0) settled down and allowed only a walk and single between the fourth through seventh innings. The big right hander threw 105 pitches over seven full innings, fanning three and allowing seven hits.

Offensively, Washburn played small ball in a five-run fourth to grab the lead back. Two infield singles, both that barely made it past the mound, started the rally. After a ground out moved the runners up 90 feet, Triggs brought them home with a sharp single to left center.

Later, a wind-aided triple that dropped into the right field corner scored Triggs and left fielder Payton Soicher. Washburn then hit solo homers in the sixth and ninth innings to increase its lead.

UNK tried to come back but a potential three-run homer off the bat of redshirt freshman left fielder Pate Katechis (Longmont, Colo.) was caught at the base of the right field wall to end the eighth.

Besides Richardson (Goddard, Kan.), junior second baseman Matt Salamon (Owasso, Okla.) and sophomore third baseman Josh Estrada (Houston, Texas) both went 2 for 4.

The series continues Saturday at 2:00 p.m.