March 15, 2008

Baseball Bounces Back, Sweeps Mines

Lopers Rally in Game One, Hold on in Nightcap

     Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney baseball team used a late inning rally and quick start to sweep Colorado School of Mines, 6-5 (11 innings) and 9-7, Saturday afternoon at Memorial Field.

      UNK (9-13, 5-7 RMAC) stops a five game losing streak while the Orediggers (7-15, 5-6 RMAC) cool off after a recent hot stretch.

      In game one, senior Chris Gillaspy (Henderson, Nev.) hit an infield single in the bottom of the 11^th inning to bring home pinch runner Dan Becker (Omaha Gross)

      After being shut down by Mines starter Andrew Ryan (8.0 IP, seven hits, three runs), UNK scored two in the ninth to force extra innings. Then, after Mines' Elliott Reige homered to lead off the 10^th, an Oredigger error allowed senior Tyler Keeble (Mesa, Ariz.) to force another extra frame.

      UNK could've won the game in the 9^th or 10^th inning by Mines' closer Marshall Schuler worked out of two bases loaded jams to keep the game knotted.  The 'Diggers shot themselves in the foot a bit over the last three innings, committing three key errors

      Gillaspy finished 3 for 6 with three other Lopers have two hits a piece. All three Loper pitchers threw well with senior Jeff Foster (Ranger, Texas) allowing two runs in four innings of relief and closer Nick Hall (Lincoln) working the top of the 11^th to earn his first win. 

      Finally, starter Ryan Wrobel (Scottsdale, Ariz.) allowed just one earned run in six innings.

      UNK carried the momentum into the night cap as they scored seven runs, against three different Mines pitchers, in the fist inning. The Lopers had four hits in the frame but the 'Diggers also walked four players and hit a batter.

      Mines then limited Kearney to two runs and six hits over the final six innings. Scoring four in the third to come back, the 'Diggers rally continued in the seventh.

      With bases loaded and one out, Sam Cooper cut the Loper lead to two with a fielder's choice. Lead off hitter Stefan Revielle, who led off the game with a homer, was up next. He would hit a grounder to first baseman Joe Nowaczyk () who just beat Revielle to first base.

      Omaha native Matt Boganowski earned his first collegiate win by throwing three strong innings. Foster earned the save by throwing the top of the seventh.

      Offenisvely, Lincoln junior Brad Hull and Kearney sophomore Blake Cover each went 2 for 3 with freshman Darin Grace (Blair) having a two run single in the first.