February 17, 2008

Baseball Goes 1-1 at Fort Hays

Sunday Games Called Off

     Kearney, Neb. –  Senior Ryan Wrobel allowed one earned run over five innings and junior Nate Swearer went 3 for 4 with three RBI’s to lead the Nebraska-Kearney baseball team to a 9-2 win over Fort Hays State Saturday in Kansas.

     The Lopers (3-2) then led game two 4-1 but the Tigers (2-3) rallied for a 13-9 victory. A double header scheduled for Sunday was postponed and no makeup date has been set.

      In game one, Hays jumped out to a 2-0 first inning lead on the strength of three singles, a sacrifice fly and error.

      However, Wrobel (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and sophomore Nick Hall (Lincoln) would combine to shut out the Tigers the rest of the way. Wrobel earned the win and allowed six hits and no walks while fanning four.

      Hall threw the last two sets, walking three, allowing two hits and having two strikeouts.

      Offensively, UNK tallied one in the second and two in the third to take the lead for good. The Lopers then erupted for four in the fifth and finished the contest with 14 hits.

      Swearer (Lincoln) had a run scoring single in the third and a two run homer in the fifth to lead the way. Also, Arizona senior Tyler Keeble went 3 for 4 with senior Joe Nowaczyk (Gretna), junior Kyle Smith (Blair) and freshman Josh Smith (Kearney) each having two hits.

       In the night cap, UNK had five hits and took advantage of three walks and a hit batter to build a three run lead after three full innings.  The Lopers then scored four more in the fifth but the Tigers had a five run fourth and a five run sixth to secure the win. 

       Smith and senior Trey Howell (Antonito, Colo.) each belted two run homers with sophomore Blake Cover (Kearney) driving in three runs. Swearer (2 for 2, two RBI’s, one run) also had another strong effort.

       Hays out hit UNK 12-8 in the game and got a three run homer from Tyler Robbins and two run dinger from Chase Schippers to highlight the comeback.

      Weather permitting, UNK will play Wayne State and Washburn next weekend in Topeka. Pictured below are Swearer-Wrobel.