Baseball 2001
Komine Leads No. 5 Nebraska
to 13-1 Victory Over Northwestern State
March 15
Natchitoches, LA. - All-America right-hander Shane Komine made
sure that Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn's return to Northwestern State
was a successful one, striking out a season-high 12 batters and allowing
just an unearned run in eight innings, as No. 5 Nebraska won its 12th
straight game, downing the Demons, 13-1, in front of a crowd of 850
at Brown-Stroud Field Thursday evening.
Komine, a junior from Honolulu,
recorded his 12th career double-digit strikeout performance and scattered
three hits to improve to 5-1 on the season. Komine's season-high strikeout
effort gives him 288 in his career, one shy of tying Mike Zajeski's
school record of 289 set between 1988 and 1992.
"Everything fell into
place tonight," said Komine, who has won his last five decisions.
"I was able to throw a lot of strikes and that helped to set
up my curve ball with two strikes. The last couple of starts, I have
not been effective with two strikes, but I got in to a groove and
our defense was outstanding."
Thursday's game marked
the first time that NU head coach Dave Van Horn and assistant coach
Rob Childress returned to the Natchitoches, La., school where the
duo coached from 1995 to 1997 before turning the Husker program around.
"Its good to come
in here and get the win," Van Horn said. "I have a lot of
good memories of this place and to come down here and beat a very
solid team is very good win for us."
With the win, the Huskers
improved to 14-3 on the season, NU's best start since 1998, while
Komine's 12-strikeout performance topped his season high of 10 at
Texas Tech on March 2. After allowing the run in the second, he retired
19 of the final 23 batters he faced, including 13 in a row at one
point.
While Komine shut down
the Demon (16-7) offense, shortstop Brandon Eymann paced the Huskers,
going 2 for 3 with three RBI, including a two-run sixth inning single
to break a 1-1, as NU scored four in the frame off Demon starter and
loser Jason Slanina, who fell to 2-1 on the season.
"I was just trying
to score the runner from third, and I got a pitch I was able to drive
and turned on it," Eymann said of his game-winning hit.
In the top of the sixth
with one out and a runner at first, third baseman Jeff Blevins' grounder
was booted by NSU second baseman David Quattrociocci, putting runners
on first and second. Second baseman Will Bolt was hit by a pitch to
load the bases before Eymann chased Slanina with a two-run single
to right center, giving the Huskers a 3-1 lead. NU would increase
the lead to 5-1 on RBI singles by catcher Tito Rivera and center fielder
Jeff Leise, providing Komine more than enough support.
The Huskers took a 1-0
lead in the top of the second, scoring a run in the top of the second
on an RBI single by shortstop Brandon Eymann. Third baseman Jeff Blevins
led off with a double to the wall in left center and moved to third
on a ground out by Will Bolt, before Eymann blooped a single into
short left. The Demons tied the score with an unearned run in the
bottom half of the inning. With one out, third baseman Tyler Durham
was hit by a Komine offering. He moved to third on an error by Eymann
and scored on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Richard Solis.
After plating four in the
sixth, the Huskers extended their lead with eight runs of a trio of
Demon relievers in the final three innings, as NU pounded out 17 hits
and reached double figures for the ninth time this season. Junior
right fielder Adam Stern went 4 for 6, while senior first baseman
Dan Johnson and Rivera each added three hits in the win.
The Huskers conclude their
Louisiana trip tomorrow and Saturday, as NU will travel to Shreveport
for a three-game series at Centenary. The Huskers and Gents will square
off in a doubleheader on Friday at 1p.m. and a single game Saturday
at noon.
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