Baseball 2001
Rodrigue, Johnson Lead
Huskers to 11th Straight Win
March 13, 2001
Ruston, LA. -First baseman Dan Johnson went 3 for 4 with a
homer and four RBI, while NU left-hander Jamie Rodrigue pitched a
complete-game six hitter, as fifth-ranked Nebraska won its 11th straight
game, downing Louisiana Tech, 13-2, Tuesday evening at J. C. Love
Field.
Johnson continued his torrid stretch against the Bulldogs, belting
his fifth homer in the last four games, as the Huskers pounded out
13 hits and scored 10 or more runs for the eighth time this season.
The 11-game win streak ties for the eighth longest in school history,
as NU won the opener of its six-day, five-game road trip through Louisiana.
The offensive output was
more than enough for Rodrigue, who pitched his fifth career complete
game. The sophomore from St. Clair, Mo., allowed a two-run homer in
the first inning, but settled down, retiring 12 of the next 13 hitters
and striking out seven to improve to 2-1 on the season.
"Jamie probably had
his best outing of the season," Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn
said. "He was able to get ahead of hitters and keep them off
balance all night. He's been getting better, and he was terrific tonight."
Junior right fielder Adam
Stern also had three hits and three runs scored, as the Huskers, off
to their best start in 13 seasons, improved to 13-3 on the year.
The Huskers jumped to a
1-0 lead in the top of the first, as Stern singled with one out, stole
second and scored on a on a two-out single to left by Johnson.
The lead would not last
past the first as Louisiana Tech tallied a pair of runs in its half
of the frame of Rodrigue. Shortstop Wade Robinson led off with a single
to right and scored two batters later on a two-run homer to left by
Cullen Simmons, his third of the season
The Huskers regained the
lead in the third, scoring four runs and stringing together five hits
in the frame. Sophomore left fielder Jeff Leise, who went 2 for 3
with three runs scored, led off with a double and moved to third on
a bunt single by Stern. Matt Hopper then tied the score with a RB
I single to right, scoring Leise, to knot the score at two. Johnson's
second hit of the day, a single to right, put runners on second and
third before Stern scored on a balk by Bulldog starter Derek Brewster
to give the Huskers a 3-2 lead. John Cole's RBI single plated Hopper
while Johnson scored on a grounder by Jeff Blevins, marking the 19th
time this season that NU scored four or more runs in an inning.
The Huskers extended the
lead to 9-2 in the fourth inning, highlighted by Johnson's sixth homer
of the season Consecutive singles by second baseman Josh Hesse and
Leise put runners on first and second before Stern's sacrifice bunt
was misplayed by Brewster and thrown down the left field line, allowing
Hesse to score on the play. After Hopper flew out, Johnson sent a
towering drive over the fence in right, his fifth homer in the last
four games.
Brewster took the loss
to Louisiana Tech, allowing nine runs - eight earned - on 10 hits
in four innings, as the Bulldogs drop of 8-7 on the season.
"After we got the
lead, I was able to relax and throw strikes," Rodrigue said.
"I was able to spot my pitches well and got ahead of the hitters
early in the count. With our offense hitting the way they did, I was
to go out there and throw strikes."
In the fifth, Stern increased
the NU lead to 11-2 with a two-out triple to right right, scoring
Brandon Eymann and Leise, who both walked earlier in the innings.
The Huskers added their final two runs in the sixth on an RBI single
by catcher Jed Morris and scoring an unearned run, as Eymann's two-out
grounder was booted by Criag Montomery, allowing Morris to score the
final run.
The Huskers conclude the
two-game series with the Bulldogs Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. The
game will be broadcast over the internet at www.891klpi.org
Notes:
*- With the win, Nebraska improved its win streak to 11 games, tying
for the eighth longest win streak in school history. The 11 straight
wins against Division I foes ties for third on that chart as well.
*- Johnson moved into sole
possession of 10th place on Nebraska's career home run chart, passing
Joe Fererico, who had 26 homers from 1987-88. He now has 27 homers
in 80 career games.
*- Jeff Leise extended
his hit streak to 15 games with a lead off double in the third. Adam
Stern, who went 3 for 3, also improved his hit streak to 11 games
*- Nebraska has scored
10 or more runs in eight of its 16 games this season
*- Nebraska has now scored
four or more runs in an inning 20 times in the first 16 games this
season.
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