ThunderWolves fail to solve Kearney's Sheldon

Nebraska-Kearney 4, CSU-Pueblo 1

PUEBLO, Colo. - Upsets continued to be the order of the day as the fifth-seeded Nebraska-Kearney Lopers upended the second-seeded CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves, scoring a 4-1 win in a pitchers' dual Wednesday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament action at Colorado State University-Pueblo's Rawlings Field.

A dual between recently-crowned RMAC Pitcher of the Year, Ryan Sheldon, and a fellow unanimous all-RMAC first team selection, CSU-Pueblo's Mario Mattivi (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.), Sheldon and the Lopers eeked out a close one.  The Lopers' win marked the third time this season Sheldon has earned a win over the ThunderWolves.  In all, Sheldon has only allowed a grand total of three runs over three games against the Pack.

Sheldon's exploits aside, the hero for the Lopers was Andrew Haake, who launched a two-run bomb in the seventh inning to break a 1-1 deadlock as Mattivi hovered around the 140-pitch mark. 

The win sets up Kearney to make another run for an RMAC title, having won the tourney crown each of the past two seasons.

Nebraska-Kearney will face New Mexico Highlands in the 7 p.m. game Thursday while CSU-Pueblo will take on fellow upset victim, Mesa State, in the losers' bracket Thursday at noon in an elimination game.