April 16, 2008

Baseball Holds Off NW Missouri, 13-10

Big Days for Smith, Nowaczyk

       Kearney, Neb. – Senior Joe Nowaczyk and junior Kyle Smith each drove in four runs, and sophomore Ryan Seefus beat his old team, to lead Nebraska-Kearney to a 13-10 win at NW Missouri State Tuesday afternoon in Maryville, Mo.

      UNK improves to 21-20 while the Bearcats fall to 22-16.

      Northwest jumped out to a 2-0 on the strength of a solo homer and an RBI double. However, UNK tied things up on a two run shot from Smith (2 for 4), then erupted for five in the fourth and three more in the fifth.

      The Lopers took advantage of two Northwest errors -- they had six for the game -- to tally four unearned runs in the fourth. Senior Trey Howell (Antonito, Colo.) and Smith each had two run singles in the inning.

      In the fifth, Nowaczyk (2 for 3, two runs) had a two run double to push the UNK lead to eight.

      Seefus, who redshirted at Northwest in 2006, gave up only two runs over the first five innings. The 'Cats started to come back in the sixth as they hit a solo homer and took advantage of two walks and two singles to score three more runs.

      Northwest then tallied two unearned runs in the seventh to get within 10-8. But, a two run single from Nowaczyk and an RBI single from sophomore Blake Cover gave the momentum back to the Lopers in the eight.

      Seefus wins for the second time in 2008 while Lincoln junior Nate Swearer went 3 for 4 with three runs scored.

      Over the last three games, UNK has scored 44 runs and pounded out 48 hits. Smith (Blair) has been on a tear in the last six contests, batting .550 with two homers and nine RBI's. In that same stretch, Nowaczyk (Gretna) has two homers and a team-best 13 RBI's.

      UNK begins a nine-game home stand this weekend when Colorado State-Pueblo visits. Pictured below are Seefus-Nowaczyk-Smith.