Box Score Box Score

KEARNEY, Neb. - Metro State left the tying run on second base to end a 9-7 loss at Nebraska-Kearney. The Lopers took three of the four games in the series.

UNK took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a three-run home run by Tommy Barnes.

Starter Carlos Luzon (Caracas, Venezuela/U.E. Instituto Escuela) settled in and allowed just two runs over the next 7 1/3 innings.

The Roadrunners tied the game in the fifth inning. Darryl Baca (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) led off with a home run to right-center. Metro scored two more on three straight singles by Mitch Gibbons (Franktown, Colo./Ponderosa H.S.), Jeff Levett (Parker, Colo./Chaparral H.S.) and Chris Spirek (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley H.S.) as the four freshmen accounted for each baserunner during the three-run inning.

The Lopers bounced back to regain the lead with two runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth, the only blemish on Luzon's outing between the first and eighth innings. In the eighth, Luzon recorded two outs, but left two on when he gave way to Eli Ford (Casper, Wyo./Kelly Walsh H.S.). UNK greeted Ford with three hits as four straight batters reached base in a four-run bottom of the eighth.

Metro put together its own rally in the top of the ninth. Three straight hitters reached base to start the inning before Levett drove in Baca on a fielder's choice. Spirek then drove in Gavin Purvis (Albuquerque, N.M./Cibola H.S.) and Daron Schulthies (Littleton, Colo./Heritage H.S.) capped the scoring with a two-run single. Walks to Evan Claus (Albuquerque, N.M./Eldorado H.S.) and Alex Schrupp (Parker, Colo./Regis Jesuit H.S.) loaded the bases before Baca flew out to center to end the game.

The Roadrunners will travel to Colorado Mesa for four games next weekend.