Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney baseball team had three big innings at the plate and got RBI's from seven different players to hold off Southwest Baptist, 13-8, Sunday evening in Bolivar, Mo.

Due to rain in the area, the three-game MIAA series was pushed back a full day with the opener moved 50  miles down the road to Ozark, Mo. UNK (5-7) won that game, 15-9, The two teams will finish up the series Monday at 12 p.m.

In a game that lasted 3:40, the Lopers and Bearcats (5-9) combined for 21 runs on 24 hits, 15 walks, four errors and one hit batter. UNK drew 12 of the base on balls and racked up 10 singles.

Leading from start to finish, the Lopers scored four in the second, five in the fifth and three more in the sixth. SBU tried to counter by scoring three runs in both the fifth and ninth innings and having a two spot in the seventh.

A balanced Loper attack was led by junior center fielder and leadoff hitter Brett Young (1 for 4, four RBI's), junior right fielder Pate Katechis (3 for 6, two runs and one RBI) and senior second baseman Scott Platt (2 for 3, three runs and one RBI).

Young (Lodi, Calif.) reached his RBI total thanks to a sac fly, fielder's choice and a two-run single. Next, Katechis (Longmont, Colo.) went yard in the fifth with Platt (Longmont, Colo.) walking three times. On the mound, junior lefty Evan Hill (Petaluma, Calif.) picked up his first win as a Loper by allowing five earned in 6.1 innings. Fanning three and walking two, he gave up six hits.  

For SBU, preseason All-American catcher Hunter Hisky hit a three-run shot in the ninth.

In game one, senior Dallas Schramm (Millard North), sophomore first baseman Ty Roseberry (Kearney) and junior third baseman Alex Achtermann (Denver, Colo.) each had three hits and combined for nine runs and six RBI's. Schramm (3 for 7, three runs) and Roseberry (3 for 4, four runs and three RBI's) each hit homers with senior second base man Scott Platt (Longmont, Colo.) going 2 for 4 with two runs and three RBI's.

UNK led 11-3 after four complete thanks to four spots in the first and fourth innings. Senior Mitchell Robinson (Golden, Colo.) moved to 2-1 by fanning six over seven innings. He allowed four earned on four walks and six hits.