Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kearney, Neb. – Freshman Sara Sempek threw six strong innings and freshman Nicole Spykstra drove in a pair of runs to help Nebraska-Kearney hold off Chadron State, 3-2, in the first game of a double header Tuesday in Chadron.

The Eagles (22-22) won the night cap, 10-4. These two teams were supposed to meet in Kearney earlier this year but those games were weathered out.

UNK (9-43) scored single runs in the third, fourth and seventh innings to erase a 1-0 deficit. Sempek (Papillion-LaVista) didn't allow an earned run in winning for the fifth time. She allowed four hits, walked four and fanned three in blanking the Eagles for five straight innings.

Chadron did make things interesting with a two-out homer in the seventh but junior Abbey Martin (Pleasant Grove, Utah) got the final out to earn her second save.

Offensively, Spykstra went 2 for 4 from the cleanup spot with Lexington junior third baseman Halle Gydesen (2 for 3) and California freshman designated player Macey Nelson (2 for 3, one RBI) also having multi-hit efforts. Finally, all three Loper runs came thanks to a double followed by a single.

In game two, freshman Megan Horn (1-1) tossed a complete game three-hitter. Throwing 98 pitches, she fanned five and worked around four walks. UNK managed four runs thanks to those base on balls and five Eagle errors.

Chadron busted open things with a six-run fifth that featured a three-run dinger by right fielder Morgan Wilhelm (1 for 2, one run). Gydesen (2 for 3, one run) paced the Lopers with freshman Mallory Stoner allowing one earned over the final 1.2 innings.

UNK is at Fort Hays State Saturday (MIAA games) and then hosts the Tigers (non-conference) on Sunday.