Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – Junior second baseman Molly Stern delivered a walk-off single in game one and junior Kami Merrill tossed a complete game three-hit shutout in game two as Nebraska-Kearney swept Washburn, 7-6 and 7-0, Friday evening at Dryden Park.
 
With the wins, UNK (16-24, 7-15) ends an eight-game losing streak and improves to 9-5 at home. Meanwhile, Washburn falls to 17-19 (7-11).
 
In game one, UNK committed five errors, leading to four Ichabod runs. Kearney briefly grabbed a 4-3 lead in the fourth after senior center fielder Rebecca Wyatt (Glendale, Ariz.) hit a run scoring triple to right center and then came home on an RBI single by senior third baseman Makenzi Dallas (Phoenix, Ariz.).
 
However, the 'Bods scored three in its half of the sixth, getting a two-run shot from nine-hole hitter Lexi Myers.
 
To erase a 6-3 deficit, UNK had four of its nine hits in its last at bat. The rally started with singles by senior first baseman Kate Ruwe (2 for 2, one run) and sophomore pitcher/designated player Meg Housholder (2 for 3, one run & two RBI's).
 
A two-run triple to right center by senior left fielder Paige Hamelin (Payson, Ariz.) made it a 6-5 game and then a Washburn error put another Loper on base. Merrill (Calgary), coming in as a pinch runner, took second without a throw down. Stern (2 for 3) finally ended things with a sharp single to left center that easily brought home Hamelin.
 
Housholder (Parker, Colo.) improved to 4-5 by allowing no earned runs in 4.0 full innings of relief work. She fanned two, walked none and allowed just three hits.
 
UNK didn't need to do much in the night cap as Merrill (8-8) threw her first complete game shutout. The College of Southern Idaho transfer fanned seven, walked two and allowed Washburn just a double and two singles.
 
The Lopers scored three in the second, two in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Housholder hit a two-run shot in the fourth with Ruwe (Blair) leading off the third with her team-leading 16th dinger. Finally, Hamelin and senior catcher Erin Dwyer (Elmwood) each went 2 for 3.
 
The Emporia State Hornets visit Saturday at noon.