Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – The 22nd-ranked Missouri Western State Griffons got complete games from senior pitchers Janie Smith and Shyanne Saladino to slip past Nebraska-Kearney, 6-5 and 6-3, Sunday afternoon in St. Joseph.
 
The Griffons (30-10, 15-3) won all four of its games this weekend to remain in sole possession of second place in the MIAA standings.
 
UNK (14-24, 5-15) more than pushed MWSU as they finished with 10 hits in each game. In the early contest, the Lopers used five hits a in a three-run third to erase a 2-0 hole. The big inning included a two out, two-run double down the right field line by senior designated player Kayla Carter (Mesa, Ariz.).
 
However, Carter was later thrown out a home to end the inning. Second baseman Paige Shifflett (2 for 3) then led off the Griffon third with a homer to left center. Two batters later, first baseman Kailey Green (2 for 3) hit a two-run shot.
 
Now 16-7 on the spring, Smith did the rest, allowing five earned on those 10 hits and two walks. She fanned six Lopers in tossing 112 pitches.

All nine Loper starters registered a hit with Colorado sophomore Meg Housholder having a solo homer in the seventh after throwing a scoreless sixth. She then went 3 for 4 in the second game and allowed just one earned run over the first 3.1 innings.

Saladino (14-3) allowed a first inning run as well but then blanked UNK until the sixth. Western broke the one all tie with a five-run fifth. The key inning featured three walks and two-run homer from designated player Taylor Hamilton (3 for 4, three RBI's).
 
Besides Housholder, Lincoln sophomore outfielder Kaela Samek went 3 for 3 with a run scored from the ninth spot in the lineup.
 
UNK hosts Washburn and Emporia State next weekend.