Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney baseball team hosts the red hot Missouri Western State Griffons this weekend at Memorial Field.

On Friday, the 1967 Kearney State baseball team will be honored. That squad qualified for the NAIA National Tournament and posted a 23-8 record. Check the Loper schedule page for first pitch times and media links.

MWSU (22-17, 19-10) comes in riding a six-game winning streak and also is a solid 10-11 on the road. The Griffons have smashed 68 doubles, 13 triples and 34 home runs while allowing just 27 combined triples and homers.

Six different players have gone yard at least three times, including Canadian infielder David Glaude (five) and senior infielder Landon Mason (team-high seven). Glaude also leads in batting average (.365), RBI's (32) and doubles (12) with senior outfielder Nick Gawley (.342 avg.) having swiped 28 bases in 32 attempts.

On the mound, the Griffs feature seven-game winner Richard Peoples, a 5-11 senior right hander. He has tossed five complete games while fanning 45 and walking just 20. Omaha junior Dustin Agnew (5-0, 2.42 ERA) and junior Nate Hunter (5-2, 2.43 ERA), both right handers, have combined to make 14 starts with junior righty Jared Lloyd at a team-best 17 appearances and two saves.

Last spring in St. Joe, MWSU took two of three from the Lopers.

UNK (13-26, 6-20) is coming off a 9-2 win at rival Fort Hays State Tuesday night. The Lopers have played just nine home games at Memorial Field this spring, winning four of them. With 10 games left in the season, seven will come in the friendly confines.

Junior masher Dallas Schramm (Millard North H.S.) continues to power the Loper offense, leading in all the key categories. The catcher and designated hitter is the only Loper to have started all 39 games this year and currently comes in with a .383 average, 17 doubles, nine HR's, 45 RBI's and 29 runs scored.

Next, senior outfielder Easton Edmond (Lincoln Southwest H.S.) has seven HR's and 13 RBI's with versatile junior Josh Estrada (Houston) on a recent power surge, how having four HR's and four doubles on the year. Finally, true freshman infielder Calvin Rudolph (Millard South H.S.) has made 28 starts and is batting a solid .305 with five doubles and 14 RBI's.

The UNK pitcher staff has senior relievers Sean Laughlin (20) and Weston Glienke (17) combine for 37 appearances with junior starters Mitchell Robinson (10) and Bradley Brown (11) combining for 21 starts. Overall, this foursome has combined to throw 55 of the Lopers innings to date.

Next Wednesday (April 26th), Hays comes to town to finish the three-game season series.