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DENVER, Colo. - Metro State hit three home runs in the final three innings to advance past Nebraska-Kearney 6-1 on Thursday in the first round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament at Metro State.  The Roadrunners improved to 41-3 this season, while the Lopers fell to 15-29.  They were eliminated later Thursday afternoon by Colorado Mines, 9-1.

The game was a pitcher's duel early on, as Christie Robinson (Clinton, Wash./South Whidbey H.S.) and Becky Dunn put zeros on the board through three innings.  Robinson escaped a jam in the second when UNk put runners on first and third with nobody out .  She got a soft lineout to third, a fielder's choice back to the pitcher's circle and a ground out to second to escape.

Julia Diehl (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge H.S.) hit a one-out single in the bottom of the fourth and Lauren Hainlen (Parker, Colo./Chaparral H.S.) reached on a single two batters later.  Amber Roundtree (Lakewood, Colo./Faith Christian H.S.) broke the scoreless tie with a three-run home run to left-center.

Metro State added another in the fifth on a solo shot by Tara Mickelson (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Wheat Ridge H.S.).

The Lopers finally pushed a run across in the sixth after a leadoff walk scored on a two-out single by Cassie Keck.

Metro State answered with two more in the bottom of the inning on a two-run home run down the left field line by Molly Clark (Lakewood, Colo./Lakewood H.S.).

Robinson pitched a 1-2-3 top of the seventh to earn the win.  The earned run she allowed in the sixth inning was the first she allowed since April 16, a span of 43 2/3 innings.

The Roadrunners pounded out 11 hits, but stranded seven runners in the game.  Hainlen and Roundtree each had two hits.

Keck had two of UNK's three hits.