Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney baseball team closes outs the 2017 season this weekend with a three-game set at Central Oklahoma.

Game times are 3:00 p.m. (Friday), 2:00 p.m. (Saturday) and 12:00 p.m. (Sunday). Check the Loper schedule page for media links.

UCO (27-17-1, 17-16) is in a three-way tie for sixth place in the MIAA standings. The top eight teams make the postseason tournament next weekend in Joplin, Mo. Ninth-place Northwest Missouri State (16-16) is right behind the sixth place trio and hosts Fort Hays State (10-36, 3-30) this weekend.

Last May at Memorial, the 'Chos swept the Lopers in the final three games of the regular season (6-2, 13-4 & 9-7). UNK did take three of four a year earlier in Edmond.

This current Brochos squad is batting .303 with 91 doubles, 33 home runs and 45 stolen bases. A balanced attack features junior outfielder Jake Dyer (.361, 16 doubles, 29 RBI's) and senior first baseman Jon Kamies (.316, 12 doubles, 36 RBI's).

Having a 13-6 record at Wendell Simmons Field, UCO has six different pitchers that have won at least three games. The long list includes UNC-Charlotte transfer Holden Capps (6-4, 5.18 ERA, 73 K's) and junior closer Gibson Russ (4-1, 11 saves, 2.21 ERA). Both are lefties.

UNK has won nine road games this spring, including last Friday's 14-11 slugfest over regionally-ranked Southwest Baptist.

While 10 seniors will wear the Blue & Gold for the final time this weekend, fourth-year junior catcher/designated hitter Dallas Schramm (Millard North H.S.) thankfully has one more season to go. The only Loper to have started all 46 games, Schramm is batting .371 with 19 doubles, 13 homers and 53 RBI's. In the UNK single season all-time top 10, he currently is tied for sixth in extra base hits, seventh in doubles and eighth in dingers. He also is just outside the top 10 in total bases, currently with 124.

On the bump, junior lefty Bradley Brown (Aurora, Colo.) will start for the 14th time this weekend. That ties for fifth in Loper lore and is just one off the record, held four different pitchers. Finally, senior relievers Weston Glienke (20) and Sean Laughlin (23) have combined for 43 appearances and 66.1 innings this year. They duo have won six games and saved three others, meaning they've had a hand in 65 percent of UNK's wins this spring.