Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – The Central Oklahoma Bronchos hit seven home runs and saw both starting pitchers throw five innings to take a double header from Nebraska-Kearney, 9-1 (5 innings ) and 10-3, Monday night at Dryden Park.

These games were originally scheduled for March 10th but postponed due to weather. UNK, with 46 games under its belt, has played a total of four times at Dryden in 2017. 

Now in first place in the MIAA and likely headed back into the Top 25 when the poll comes out Tuesday, UCO (34-8, 14-4) hit five dingers in the nightcap, smacked two in the first game and wiggled its way out of four bases loaded jams.

Sophomore Jayden Chestnut (14-3) fanned six and didn't walk a batter in tossing a five-hit complete game in the opener. At the plate, UCO tallied nine runs on eight hits, four walks, two passed balls and a hit batter. Left fielder JoBi Heath (2 for 3, one run & three RBi's) and first baseman Carli Jones (2 for 3, one run & two RBI's) homered with five of the 'Chos runs being of the unearned variety.

UNK's first three batters reached safely but back-to-back K's and a ground out kept the Lopers off the board. Three innings later, Kearney used three more singles to load the bases with one down. This time, another strikeout and ground out ended things.

Five different Lopers registered a hit with Colorado junior Meg Housholder allowing three earned in four innings of work.

Junior Peyton Walker (17-4) won the night cap as she struck out five and didn't walk a Loper in five innings. UNK did get to her in the fifth, scoring twice thanks to four hits, but also left the bases full. A passed ball on a strikeout kept the rally alive but a ground out to second limited the damage.

A six-run UCO fourth featured homers by second baseman Mo Selman (1 for 4, two RBI's), shortstop Morgan Heard (3 for 4, three runs & three RBI's) and Heath (2 for 4, three RBI's). That made the score 7-0.

Finally, UNK loaded the bases in the sixth against reliever Abbie Lancaster. While Ralston junior shotrstop Katy Shupe (1 for 2, one run) drew a walk, back-to-back ground outs once again got UCO out of the inning. Overall, Lexington junior infielder Halle Gydesen (2 for 4) paced a nine-hit attack.

NW Missouri State (Fri.) and Missouri Western State (Sat.) visit Dryden this weekend.