Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Lopers of Nebraska-Kearney scored 15 of their 24 runs on the day in just two innings of their double header against the Peacocks Saturday afternoon.  UIU rallied from an early 3-0 deficit in game one to take a 10-4 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth in game one when UNK scored nine times to come from behind and steal the 13-10 win.  In game two, the Lopers scored six runs in the seventh en route to an 11-1 victory.  The non-conference losses drop UIU’s record to 9-8 overall.
 
The home team put three runs on the board in the second inning, but Upper Iowa answered with four runs on three hits in the fourth inning.  UIU threatened for more but left the bases loaded after taking the lead; all four runs scored with two outs in the inning.  Tyler Adams drove in the first run with a bases loaded walk, while Sam Kortes and Mikey Henrichs both recorded rbi-singles in front of the second bases loaded walk of the inning.  Andrew Kraus earned the second run-scoring walk.
 
After the Lopers tied the game with a run in the fourth, the Peacocks put some distance between the two teams with six runs on four hits and one UNK error.  Once again, Upper Iowa threatened for more runs, but stranded three base runners at the end of the inning.  Jose Aguirre got the scoring started with a bases-loaded double to center that pushed three Peacocks across the plate.  After a pair of outs, Aguirre scored on a fielding error.  UIU loaded the bases again and scored their fifth run of the inning when a third strike got by the catcher and allowed all runners to advance a base.  The final run for Upper Iowa came on a Henrichs single to left.
 
The Peacocks felt like they were in control, but Nebraska-Kearney began to chip away at the six-run margin.  With one out, a solo homer got the ball rolling.  The Lopers reached base safely in nine straight plate appearances including the homerun, three doubles, four singles and a walk.  When the dust settled, the Peacocks had used three pitchers to get through the inning and the home team had a 13-10 lead.
 
Tanner Funke started and earned a no-decision after allowing 9 runs on 12 hits in 5.1 innings of work.  Mitch Luebbe was saddled with the loss after failing to record an out in his relief appearance.  Jacob Stenberg closed out the sixth recording a pair of outs.
 
Henrichs remained red-hot at the plate going 4-4 at the plate with a pair of runs batted in.  Kraus, Kortes and Aguirre all tallied a pair of hits in the game.  The quartet of Peacock batters accounted for 9 of UIU’s 13 hits.
 
In the second game, the Lopers scored three unearned runs in the first with two outs after a fielding error allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base.  UNK added another unearned run in the third inning to move out to a 4-0 lead. 
 
The Peacocks loaded the bases with two outs in the second, but a ground ball ended the threat.  UIU’s bats stayed silent until the seventh inning.   Sam Krick opened the seventh with a double to left center.  With runners on the corners and two outs, Kortes singled in a run.  After Henrichs walked the tying run stood on first as the bases were loaded once again.  Unfortunately, UIU came up empty once again and UIU trailed 4-1. 
 
UNK put the game away in the bottom of the inning with 6 runs on just one hit and one Peacock error.  The hit was a double to open the inning and was followed by three hit batsmen, a walk and a wild pitch.  The last three runs of the inning came on a miscue in the outfield allowing all three base runners to cross the plate.
 
The game ended in the seventh inning with no outs after the Lopers loaded the bases and got an rbi-single to push their lead to 10.  Due to the run-rule, Nebraska-Kearney claimed the 11-1 victory.
 
Dan Cwertniak took the loss with 6.1 innings of work.  He allowed 7 runs, 3 of which were earned, while giving up only 3 hits.
 
John Dobson picked up two hits in the game, while five other UIU players reached safely with a hit.
 
The two teams will return to Memorial Field in Kearney, Nebraska tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m.  The two games will mark the final non-conference contests of the season for Upper Iowa.