Nebraska-Kearney erased an early 2-0 deficit two beat Fort Hays State 10-5 in game one then used a walk-off home run in the ninth to take game two 8-7 Wednesday afternoon at Memorial Field in Kearney. FHSU has now lost four-straight and falls to 11-11 overall and 8-10 in the MIAA. The Lopers improve to 11-9 and 11-7 in the conference. The Tigers are back at home Thursday for a doubleheader with Pittsburg State beginning at two o’clock.
Steve Johnson Post Game Interview
Game 1: Nebraska-Kearney 10, Fort Hays State 5
The Tigers struck first, scoring two in the first, but the Lopers respond with five in the second, two in the third, one in the fifth and two in the sixth.
Trailing 8-2, Casey Sedbrook hit a two-out bases loaded single to cut the margin to 8-4. The Lopers got them back on an Eric Ringblom two-run homer in the bottom of the inning to push the lead back to six.
The Tigers got one in the seventh on a Kelton Rule sac fly.
Jesse Hart took the loss (3-1), allowing all 10 runs (7 earned) on 12 hits, walking one and striking out none.
Game 1 Highlights
Game 2: Nebraska-Kearney 8, Fort Hays State 7
Anthony Pocheco hit a two-out walkoff homer off off Kyle Leroy with one out in the ninth to lift the Lopers to the come-from-behind win.
The Tigers scored two in the third and three in the fifth in building a 5-2.
The Lopers scored two in the eighth to tie the game 6-6. Fort Hays State came back with a leadoff single from Sam Thornton who moved to second on a wild pitch then on to third an a sac bunt from Clayton Garland then scored on Kenton Rule’s two-out single, putting the Tigers up 7-6.
The home run from Pacheco in the bottom of the inning was the first given up this season by Leroy who drops to 1-1.