April 14, 2008

Baseball Goes 3-1 at Christian

Lopers Belt 7 HR's Sunday

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney baseball team pounded out 36 hits, including seven home runs, to sweep a double header from Colorado Christian, 17-4 and 14-4, on Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday, the Lopers (20-20, 14-14 RMAC) lost the series opener, 9-3, but bounced back to beat the Cougars (12-31, 4-24 RMAC) in the night cap, 6-1.

The first two games were played in Lakewood with Sunday’s games being played up the road at Colorado School of Mines.

UNK got the offensive fireworks started early on Sunday by having five hits to score five runs in the first inning. Blair junior Kyle Smith (3 for 5) completed the big inning with a two run homer, his second of the year.

The Lopers would score two more in the third and then erupt for eight in the fifth. Senior Joe Gonzales (2 for 5) had a two run single in the set and then senior first baseman Joe Nowaczyk hit a “Grand Slam” a few batters later.

Also at the plate, juniors Nate Swearer and Brad Hull each had three hits with UNK having 21 for the game.  

Kearney sophomore Jared Loschen won for the fourth time this spring by striking out six in six innings. Allowing 11 hits, Loschen didn’t walk a batter and saw his defense turn four double plays.

UNK had six less hits and scored three fewer runs in the seven inning nightcap but hit five balls out of the park.

In the first, Swearer (2 for 4) and Nowaczyk (2 for 5) hit back-to-back dingers, then sophomore Blake Cover hit a two run shot to highlight a seven run fifth.  Just an inning later, senior Griff Watson (2 for 3) and Hull (3 for 5) each hit solo homers.

On the mound, Kearney senior Seth Svoboda picked up the win by allowing four hits and four runs in five full innings.

On Saturday, Arizona senior Ryan Wrobel helped UNK stop a four-game skid by throwing a complete game 10 hitter. sNot allowing an earned run in seven innings, Wrobel struck out four and didn’t walk a Cougar. Two double play balls also helped Wrobel stop two CCU rallies.

UNK broke open the game with a four run third. Seniors Tyler Keeble and Trey Howell had back-to-back run scoring singles with Smith knocking home the other two runs with a single of his own.

Finally, the Lopers were poised for a 3-2 win in the series opener but a seven run Christian eighth gave the Cougars their first-ever win over UNK in baseball.

Catcher Chris Guyer started the rally with a two run homer, a hit that gave CCU the lead for good. He would also homer two more times in Sunday’s second game.

Junior Ryan Sheldon’s streak of complete games ended a three as he allowed six hits and three earned runs in a little over seven innings work.  He also fanned four, pushing his season total to 68.

Andrew Kaiser picked up the win for CCU as he tossed a six hit complete game.

UNK plays a non-RMAC game Tuesday afternoon at NW Missouri State. Pictured below are Wrobel-Nowaczyk-Smith.