The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Nebraska-Kearney, 11-7, on Tuesday night at Memorial Field in Kearney, Neb.

Northwest falls to 17-14 overall and 12-9 in conference play. The Lopers improved to 13-17 and 10-11 in MIAA action.

James Holler, who was named the MIAA’s Hitter of the Week earlier in the day, hit two home runs, his second and third blasts of the year.

The Bearcats hit a season-high three home runs in the game.

Northwest scored three runs in the first, one in the second, one in the seventh and two in the ninth. The Bearcats had seven runs on nine hits with two errors.

The Lopers scored 11 runs on 13 hits with no errors. UNK scored one in the first, six in the third, three in the fourth and one in the eighth.

Kevin Handzlik went 1-for-3 with a first inning three-run home run. He also drew a walk on the day.

Nick Gotta went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run score, a stolen base and a double. He drew a walk in the first inning, his MIAA leading 33rd free pass of the year.

Aaron Barratt was 1-of-3 with a double and a walk.

Jake Lewis and Garrett Fort each went 1-for-4 on the day.

Derek Meyer was 1-for-3 with a walk.

Hondo Pearcy started but left the game with two outs in the first inning due to an injury.

Jimmy McElwain pitched 3.0 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed three hits and did not walk a batter. He struck out three Lopers.

Bryce Shea recorded 1.2 innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits. He walked one and struck out one.

Gotta and Adams each drew first inning walks and with two down, Handzlik made the Lopers pay. Swinging away on a 3-0 pitch, Handzlik deposited his first home run of the year over the right field fence on an opposite-field shot to give Northwest a 3-0 lead.

Holler led off both the second and seventh innings with leadoff home runs to deep right. Each long fly came on the third pitch he saw of each at bat.

McElwain needed just seven pitches to set the Lopers down in order in the sixth inning.

Meyer led off the ninth with a single to right and was pinch ran for by Zach Douglas. Barratt drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs. Gotta pulled an RBI double down the right field line to score Douglas. After an out, Adams grounded out to second to score Barratt and Gotta moved to third.

The Bearcats will head to Joplin, Mo., for a three-game MIAA series with Missouri Southern starting on Friday, April 8.

— Northwest Athletics —