March 21, 2008

Six Run Inning Allows Baseball to Split with HU

Big Day for Nowaczyk; Foster Picks Up 3rd Save

     Kearney, Neb. – Senior first baseman Joe Nowaczyk hit a three run homer to cap a six run fifth inning and propel the Nebraska-Kearney baseball team to an 11-10 win over New Mexico Highlands in the second game of a double header Saturday at Memorial Field.

      In a bit of an ugly first game, Highlands came out on top, 6-3. The Lopers are now at .500 in the RMAC (8-8) and at 12-13 for the year. The Cowboys, mean while, fall to 3-13 in league play and are 14-16 overall.

      The series finale saw Highlands jump out to a 6-2 lead after an inning and half thanks to three hits, four walks and two Loper errors.

      Despite having just four hits over the first four innings, UNK had several chances to cut into the deficit. However, the Lopers left two runners stranded in the first, third and fourth innings.

      Nowaczyk (Gretna) did factor into a key play in the fourth when, with the bases full, he hit a high pop that the Cowboys' first and second baseman converged on. The two players would violently collide, allowing two Lopers to score. Both players would be alright and remain in the game.

      Down 9-5 heading into the bottom of the fifth, UNK finally erupted. Thanks to two hit batters and a bloop single, the Lopers had the bases full with one out. Senior short stop Tyler Keeble (Mesa, Ariz.) stroked a two run single to right center, cutting the Cowboys lead to two.

      After a strikeout, Lincoln junior Brad Hull got UNK a run closer with a RBI single to left center. Nowaczyk then stepped to the plate and promptly delivered a "no doubter" over the right field fence.

      Highlands made things interesting when they scored a run in the top of the seventh and then had runners at first and second with one out. Senior Jeff Foster (Ranger, Texas) earned his third save by getting catcher Kristian Sifuentes to ground into a game ending double play.

      The first five Lopers in the order had at least one RBI with Keeble scoring three times from the lead off spot.

      In game one, all nine runs scored were of the unearned variety. The Cowboys committed four errors, as did the Lopers. Highlands scored all six of its runs in the fourth with five crossing home plate after two were out.

      That inning started with a Loper error and featured five straight hits by Highlands.

      Senior Ryan Wrobel (Scottsdale, Ariz.) was the tough luck loser as he threw eight strong innings. Giving up 14 hits, he walked none and struck out six.

      Highlands' Nick Toscani earned his third winning by allowing only five hits and no earned runs in 8.1 innings. Nowaczyk went 2 for 4 with Kearney sophomore Blake Cover scoring once and have an RBI.

      UNK is at league power Mesa State next weekend. Pictured below are Keeble-Nowaczyk-Foster.