KEARNEY, Neb. - No. 12 Metro State's offense carried the Roadrunners to a sweep over Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday in Kearney, Neb., as Metro State won game one 10-0 behind Christie Robinson's one-hitter and game two 15-7. The Roadrunners improved to 32-8 overall and 25-5 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, while the Lopers dropped to 10-22 overall and 7-15 in the RMAC.
Game 1
Christie Robinson allowed just a lead off infield single in the top of the first, the only hit she surrendered in her five-inning victory. The only other baserunner for UNK was a hit batter in the fourth inning. Offensively, the Roadrunners blasted four home runs and seven hits. No player had more than one hit as Amber Roundtree, Kellie Nishikida, Tara Mickelson, Sarah Rusch, Jennessa Tesone, Danni Hedstrom and Lauren Hainlen each had a hit. Home runs came from Roundtree, Mickelson, Rusch and Hainlen.
Metro State took a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run home run with two outs by Rusch, scoring Mickelson. In the second inning, the first nine Roadrunners reached base as they put up eight runs, including seven before an out was recorded. Hainlen got the scoring started with a three-run blast, followed by a two-run home run by Roundtree. After a base hit by Nishikida, Mickelson took her turn with her 15th homer of the year. Rusch scored the last run of the inning on a fielder's choice by Hainlen.
Game 2
Metro State tied a season high with 16 hits and the Roadrunners blasted five more home runs in a 15-7 rout in the second game of the doubleheader. Jennessa Tesone and Danni Hedstrom each led Metro State with three hits, while Tara Mickelson homered twice and Kellie Nishikida, Sarah Rusch and Tesone each homered as well. With Mickelson's two home runs, she tied and set the Metro State single season home run record with her 16th and 17th homers this season. Ashley Johnson set the previous mark of 16 last season.
The Roadrunners trailed 2-0 after the first inning, but scored with in the top of the second. Metro State scored all eight runs with two outs, the first coming on a sacrifice fly by Lauren Hainlen. Jessica Haab started a string of six-straight batters reach, driving in Hedstrom with a base hit to right field. Following a walk to Amber Roundtree and a double by Nishikida, Mickelson connected on a three-run home run. After an infield single by Rusch, Tesone got involved with a two-run home run.
The Lopers cut Metro State's lead to 8-6 with two in the bottom of the second and two more in the third. Roundtree led off the fourth inning by getting hit by a pitch and Nishikida brought her around with a two-run home run to put the Roadrunners in front 10-6. They scored two more in the fifth inning as Corrie Nishikida and Hedstrom led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Nishikida scored on a throwing error after she stole third base and Hedstrom came home on a single to center by Roundtree, stretching Metro State's lead to 12-6.
Following a UNK home run in the bottom of the fifth, the Roadrunners put the game away with three in the sixth as Mickelson and Rusch led off with back-to-back home runs and Tesone later scored on a ground out, putting Metro State ahead 15-7. The game ended with the mercy rule after Brittany Moss pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth.
Metro State will wrap up the regular season next weekend when it hosts Chadron State for a four-game series. The Roadrunners have an opportunity to clinch the RMAC regular season championship. The Roadrunners are currently two games in front of Colorado Mines in the standings.
