Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney baseball team finishes up the majority of its non-conference games this weekend with a trip to first-year Colorado-Colorado Springs.

The Lopers (4-4) and the Mountain Lions (6-4) will play four games beginning Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. Central. Check the UNK schedule page for first pitch times and media links. After Sunday, UNK has only two non-MIAA games the rest of the season.

UCCS announced the addition of baseball and women's lacrosse, and the expansion of track & field, back in September 2015. Current head coach Dave Hajeck, a former MLB player, was hired two months later.

The Mountain Lions are the ninth RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conf.) school to sponsor baseball. They'll play games at city-owned Spurgeon Field before moving to a new on-campus facility in 2018.

Despite being young, UCCS has gotten off to a strong start, upsetting then-No. 6 Cal Poly Pomona, 4-3, in its first ever game. They then two took two of three from rival Colorado State-Pueblo last weekend.

Junior outfielder Zach Hall is pacing the offense (.393, two HR's, five RBI's) with right handers Colin Cicere (1-0, 6.23 ERA) and Eric Neeley (1-0, 3.86 ERA) effective in starting roles.

The Lopers have not only split their first two series but won the second and third games of the weekend each time.

Averaging seven runs per game, UNK is led at the plate by junior catcher/designated hitter Dallas Schramm (.567, three HR's, 15 RBI's) and junior first baseman Ricky Trammell (.364, three doubles, five RBI's). Thirteen other Lopers have registered at least four at-bats and a start in the field.

It's been that busy on the mound as 15 pitchers have thrown at least one full inning. Veteran junior right hander Mitchell Robinson (2-0, 5.25 ERA) leads with junior lefty newcomer Bradley Brown (1.0, 6.17 ERA) having 11 K's in 11.2 innings.

Kearney is slated to have next week off before heading to Missouri Southern State March 3-5 to begin league play.