Feb. 10, 2008

Box Score

DENVER, COLO. - Blake Cover's two-out, two-run single to right field completed a three-run ninth inning for Nebraska-Kearney in the nightcap and helped lead the Lopers to a doubleheader sweep of Metro State, 13-6 and 7-6, in nonconference baseball action, Sunday afternoon at Auraria Field.

Metro State led 6-4 going into the ninth inning and had hopes of a split but the Lopers put two on with nobody out as Roadrunner reliever Ted Jamison hit the leadoff hitter and the next batter reached on an error. After a sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third, UNK's Joe Nowaczyk was intentionally walked. A fielder's choice scored a run and moved runners to first and third. The Roadrunners brought in Matt Backes, who hit Brad Hull to load the bases. Cover then came in and hit a dribbler by first baseman Josh Marner for the game-winning hit as two runners scored. Ryan Seefus then retired the Roadrunners in order in the bottom of the ninth to close out the game.

"This was a frustrating game," said Roadrunner head coach Bobby Pierce. "Junior (Armando Casas) had a good start and kept us in the game. We knew we didn't score enough runs but we just hit the ball right at people. They took the game from us. The positive thing is our guys came out of the bullpen and threw strikes."

Jake Palmer had two hits and two RBI, while Troy Spahn had two hits and an RBI for Metro State. Cover had two hits and two RBI, while Nate Swearer also had two hits and an RBI for the Lopers.

After UNK took a 3-1 lead to start the game, Metro State scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to go up, 6-3. Metro State took advantage of two walks and two hit batsmen in the inning, as well as four hits, including a two-run single by Palmer.

Seefus earned the victory in relief, giving up no runs and just one hit in 4.2 innings pitched. He also struck out four. Armando Casas started and gave up just two earned runs in six innings for Metro State.

In the opener, Nebraska-Kearney came out hot, scoring four runs in the first as eight batters came to the plate. Swearer had a two-run double, while Cover added an RBI single. After Metro State got a run back in the bottom of the inning, the Lopers scored three more in the third, then five more in the fourth to take a 12-1 lead. Nowaczyk had a two-run double in the fourth.

The Roadrunners scored three runs in the ninth after a two-out error brought in two, but it wasn't enough.

Palmer had two hits and two RBI, while Mike Coffey added two hits for Metro State. Nebraska-Kearney was led by Swearer with three hits and four RBI, while Nowaczyk and Cover each had three RBI.

Ryan Sheldon earned the win, giving up seven hits and three earned runs in five innings.

With the sweep, Nebraska-Kearney improves to 2-1 overall, while Metro State falls to 1-2. The Roadrunners host Hastings in a four-game series, Feb. 16-17.