JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Three multi-run homers helped Nebraska-Kearney beat Lincoln, 14-2, in the MIAA opener for both teams on Friday afternoon (Feb. 26).

The first long ball came in the top of the first inning, giving UNK an early 2-0 lead. The Lopers doubled their advantage by bringing in runs on ground outs in the second and third frames before using a three-run shot in the fifth to take a 7-0 lead.

Nebraska-Kearney (2-6, 1-0 MIAA) added three more runs in the sixth before Lincoln (1-8, 0-1 MIAA) got on the board in the bottom half of the frame. Zach Anderson hit a lead-off single through the middle, and Nick Lovell followed with a double into right centerfield. A pair of sacrifice flies from Trevor Schnieders and Dillon Walker then allowed LU to cut the UNK lead down to 10-2.

Neither team got on the board in the seventh inning, but Nebraska-Kearney managed to end the contest one frame early with four scores in the eighth. Lincoln forced the first two Loper batters of the frame into a pop out and a ground out, but the third reached on a walk and took second on a throwing error during a failed pickoff attempt. A base hit ended up driving in the runner. Later in the inning, UNK hit its third homerun of the day, this one a three-run shot over the left field wall to provide the final score of 14-2.

Kaleb Davis and Mike Million also had hits for Lincoln, with Davis also making a team-high 10 putouts. Jackson Walker, Dillon Walker and Million each made four putouts apiece. Lovell added a team-high four assists and Dillon Walker contributed three. Starting pitcher Cody Stegemann threw three strikeouts while relievers Caleb Thomas and Zach Maskill had two and one strikeouts, respectively.

The Blue Tigers and the Lopers will meet again at LU Baseball Field on Saturday (Feb. 27), with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. CST.