Kearney, Neb. – Another road trip awaits for the Nebraska-Kearney baseball team as they face the Washburn Ichabods this weekend in Topeka.

The Lopers have already played 21 true road games; the average for the other 12 MIAA teams is 13. After the trip to Kansas, eight more road contests await UNK.

The games against Washburn will be at 4:00 p.m. (Friday), 1:00 p.m. (Saturday) and noon (Sunday). Check the Loper schedule page for media links.

WU (17-11, 9-8) is 7-5 at home so far this spring and is coming off a 10-5 win over Fort Hays State on Tuesday. Last week, the 'Bods won at Hays and dropped two of three at Missouri Southern State.

Senior right hander Lance Barkley (5-1, 3.83 ERA) and sophomore lefty Jacob Head (4-2, 3.86 ERA) lead a pitching staff that has a 4.55 ERA. In the pen is senior righty closer Marcus McKinney (0-0, 4.66 ERA & six saves).

At the plate, WU averages about six runs per game and has belted 17 homers while surrendering 17 dingers. Senior infielder Riley Krane (6-3, 220) definitely leads the way is he is batting .347 with five triples, 10 HR's and 41 RBI's. He is tied for the MIAA lead in triples, dingers and RBI's.

Junior infielder Tanner Triggs (.351, five doubles) and junior outfielder Darian Abram (.283, four doubles & three triples) are other 'Bod bats to watch. In 2016, WU came to Memorial and took three from the Lopers (10-4, 16-3 and 14-7). 

Over the last eight games, UNK has been led by senior outfielder and leadoff hitter Jacob Richardson (Goddard, Kan.). He is batting .387 during this stretch with three doubles, one homer and five RBI's.

Also swinging a hot bat of late is junior infielder/outfielder Josh Estrada (.310). In the last eight games, he also is perfect in 22 fielding chances (15 putouts and seven assists).

On the mound, junior Mitchell Robinson (Golden, Colo.) has a 4.98 ERA, two complete games and thrown a team-best 47.0 innings. Right behind him in the rotation is junior lefty Bradley Brown (Aurora, Colo.), who has seven starts and a team-best 37 K's in 39.1 innings.

UNK finishes up the Northwest Missouri State series Tuesday (April 4th) in Maryville. The Northeastern State RiverHawks (14-11, 8-6) then come to Memorial Field next weekend.