Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney baseball team gets another crack at a nationally-ranked team when it faces Emporia State this weekend in Kansas.

Rain is in the forecast so the schedule might change. Currently, UNK and the fifth-ranked Hornets (19-5 8-2) will play Friday and Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday at noon. Check the Loper schedule page for media links.

ESU is coming off a 4-1 home loss to Missouri Western State on Tuesday, dropping its home mark to 11-3. That setback also stopped a four-game win streak.

Since joining the MIAA, UNK is 3-8 against ESU and lost all three games at Glennen Field last year. In 2015, the Lopers took two of three from the Hornets at Memorial Field.

This E-State team is led by senior infielder Alex White (.451, three doubles & 19 RBI's) and junior catcher Mason Brown (.402, five doubles, six HR's & 28 RBI's). The Hornets have already belted 38 home runs with 10 different players going yard at least once.

A pitching staff with a 4.29 ERA features closer senior closer Nathan Whitcomb (0.63 ERA, five saves, 11 K's & no walks) and senior tarter Seth Holman (5-1, 3.02 ERA, 30 K's to eight walks). He began his career at Southern Mississippi.

The Lopers, after a trip to NW Missouri State on Tuesday, are currently 6-12 in true road games this spring. They are looking for their first win at Emporia as an MIAA member (0-5).

Junior first baseman Ricky Trammell (Kansas City) is .392 with seven doubles and 11 RBI's. More impressively, he has reached base in 17 consecutive games and has had a team-best nine game hit streak. The Dodge City C.C. transfer also leads in walks (12) and has been plunked once.

As a squad, UNK is hitting .286 and averaging about five runs per game. The Lopers have managed to hit 48 doubles, three triples and 10 home runs while getting hit 32 times. That's six more than the opposition.

On the mound, Kearney has 154 strikeouts to 85 walks. Colorado junior Mitchell Robinson (3-2, 5.31 ERA) has the team's lone complete game and is tied with Colorado junior Bradley Brown for the lead in strikeouts with 29.

Next, Illinois Trey Ertmer (21) and Iowa senior Weston Glienke (14) have combined to fan 35 batters. Finally, Kearney redshirt freshman Peyton Pocock has a staff-low 2.70 ERA, covering 3.1 innings.

After the trip to Kansas, UNK hosts NW Missouri State next Wednesday.