Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – Senior right hander John Watson threw a complete game six-hitter and junior third baseman Brent Kirsch went 3 for 4 with two RBI's to help Nebraska-Kearney beat Southwest Baptist, 2-1, Friday afternoon in the first game of a double header in Bolivar, Mo.

The Bearcats (21-25, 16-20) won the second game and series as starter Cory Borsh and reliever Calvin Loving combined on a four-hitter in the night cap, 5-1. Due to weather the series was moved up a full day with the double header originally set for a 10:00 a.m. start but moved back two hours because of rain.

UNK (19-26, 16-20) and the Bearcats are now tied for ninth in the MIAA standings. Central Oklahoma (18-16), Northeastern State (19-16) and NW Missouri State (19-17) are just ahead with the Bronchos facing Washburn tomorrow. To close out the regular season, the Lopers host UCO at Memorial Field May 6-8.

In his third start as a Loper, Watson (Shawnee, Okla.) earned his first win of 2016 by allowing five singles, a double and three walks. Recording UNK's third nine-inning complete game over the last four seasons, the right hander threw 126 pitches, 77 for strikes.

Fanning three, he got 18 fly ball outs and five ground outs. Blanking SBU over the last seven innings, Watson got foul ball pop ups to end the eighth and ninth innings. In both cases, a Bearcat was on base.

Senior Tim Collins (0-1) was almost as tough as he gave up no earned runs over the first five innings. With one down in the Loper fourth, the 'Cats committed an infield error.

While Collins got a strike out looking to record the second out, he then surrendered two singles and a wild pitch. The second hit came from Kirsch (Papillion), who smacked a two-run hit up the middle on a 3-1 count.

Junior Brandon Cernoff gave SBU a chance to comeback as he allowed UNK just one hit over the final four innings. However, after right fielder Cody Massey (3 for 4) had an RBI single in the second, the 'Cats never got a runner to third base the rest of the way.

The teams combined for just 11 hits in the night cap with SBU scoring four times in the first to build an insurmountable lead.

Over 5.2 innings, Borsh (3-3) allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks while fanning five. Loving, who picked up the win Thursday night, struck out five more Lopers as he allowed no runs in 3.1 innings to notch the save.

Shortstop Sean Murley had a two-run single in the first with Massey (2 for 4) bringing him home with a single to left.  

Four different Lopers had a hit, including Minnesota junior catcher Kirk McLeod. On the mound, Colorado senior Jacob Dittman allowed no runs in 5.2 innings of relief work.