Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior Richard Peoples scattered 10 hits over  8.1 innings and center fielder Nick Gawley had three doubles and scored three times to help Missouri Western State pull away from Nebraska-Kearney, 8-2, Saturday evening at Memorial Field.

The win allows the Griffons (24-17, 21-10) to take the series and push its win streak to eight in a row.

A 5-11 right hander, Peoples improved to 8-2 as he blanked the Lopers for five straight innings. Throwing 126 pitches, he fanned three, walked one and allowed seven singles.

Junior catcher Dallas Schramm (Millard North H.S.) did crush the third pitch he saw from Peoples to start the Loper second. The shot banged high off the light pole for Schramm's team-leading 10th homer of the season. Four pitches later, junior right fielder Brooks Benson (2 for 3) hit his first homer in a UNK uniform and suddenly it was a 3-2 score in favor of the Griffs.

However, UNK (13-28, 6-22) didn't score again despite matching MWSU's in hits with 11. The Lopers stranded 10 and saw junior third baseman Brent Kirsch (Papillion) thrown out at home by left fielder Ryan Smith in the seventh.

MWSU padded its lead in the top of third when right fielder Levi Schreiner (2 for 4) hit a two-run homer to left. He then brought home Gawley from second in the seventh with a single to left. Finally, with two down in the ninth, the Griffs scored two more runs, getting a solo shot from leadoff hitter Dusty Stroup.

Besides Benson (Parker, Colo), senior second baseman Matt Salamon (Owasso, Okla.) went 2 for 4, junior designated hitter Ricky Trammell (Kansas City, Mo.) went 2 for 5 and junior lefty starter Bradley Brown (Aurora, Colo.) struck out 10 in 6.2 innings.

The series finale is Sunday at noon.