Lafayette, La. - Shortstop
Brandon Eymann went 2 for 4 with a career-high four RBI, as No. 11
Nebraska improved to 4-3 on the season with a 10-5 victory over Ohio
State in the Mardi Gras Ball at M.L. "Tigue" Field Friday
afternoon.
Eymann capped a five-run
fourth inning with a three-run double and added his first home run
of the season in the ninth inning, as the Huskers tallied four runs
in the top of the ninth to break open a one-run game.
The junior from Papillion
keyed a 14-hit attack, as six different players had two hits apiece
for Nebraska.
While the Huskers offensive
reached double figures for the fourth time this season, NU's pitching
and defense allowed the Huskers to cling to a one-run lead throughout
the late innings. Junior Steve Hale (Yukon, Okla.) picked up the victory
in relief, holding the Buckeyes without a run in 4.2 innings of work.
Hale scattered six hits and struck out a season-high six batters.
"Steve really did
what we needed, and that was throw strikes and get ahead of hitters,"
Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn said. "He has been our most effective
pitcher in relief. He has started the year strong every season, and
you can see him really maturing on the mound."
The Huskers jumped to a
1-0 lead in the top of the first, as Jeff Leise (Omaha, Neb.) led
off with a triple to left center, extending his hit streak to seven
games, and scored on an RBI sacrifice fly to center by Adam Stern
(London, Ontario).
In the fourth, Nebraska
erupted for five runs on five hits, marking the eighth time this season
NU has plated four or more runs in an inning, to extend the margin
to 6-0. A leadoff single by Stern and a Matt Hopper (Morrison, Colo.)
double put runners on second and third with no outs. With one out,
John Cole (Ottawa, Ontario) and Jeff Blevins (Sand Springs, Okla.)
delivered back-to-back RBI singles to extend the Husker lead to 3-0.
With two outs, Jed Morris (Seabrook, Texas) walked to load the bases
before Eymann cleared the bases with a three-run double to right center.
After the Husker outburst,
OSU starter E.J. Laretta (0-1) settled down and pitched into the eighth
inning, keeping the Buckeyes in the game. The junior allowed six runs
on eight hits to take the loss, despite striking out five and throwing
123 pitches in 7.1 innings.
The Buckeyes came right
back, scoring five runs in the bottom of the frame. After a leadoff
single by Mike Check, Nick Swisher cut the margin to 5-2 with a two-run
homer to right center, the first homer Ott has allowed in his Husker
career. A one-out RBI single by John Mayor and a two-run double by
Joe Wilkins cut the NU advantage to 6-5. Ott, making his second start
of his career, allowed five runs on six hits in four innings, but
did not get the decision.
The Buckeyes threatened
to tie the game in both the fifth and eighth innings, putting runners
in scoring position, but Hale effectively pitched out of several dicey
jams. In the fifth, OSU put runners on first and second off Brian
Rodaway before Steve Hale came and retired the final two hitters.
In the eighth, the Buckeyes put runners on second and third with one
out, but Trent McIlvain grounded to first baseman Josh Hesse, who
threw home to Tito Rivera to get Mayor out at the plate with the tying
run. Hale then got Mike Harris to ground out to third to end the inning..
"We made the plays
when we needed to defensively" Van Horn said. "After they
got back into the game, we had to change the momentum and we did it
on the defensive end today."
The Huskers broke the game
open in the ninth, tallying four runs off a trio of Ohio State relievers.
With one out, Eymann blasted his first homer of the year off OSU reliever
Kevin Wynk. After Leise reached on a hit by a pitch, Stern tripled
to right center, scoring Leise. With two out, Jeff Blevins, who went
2 for 5 with two RBI, had an RBI single before Cole scored from third
with a wild pitch for the Huskers final run.
The Huskers return to action
Saturday afternoon, taking on host Louisiana-Lafayette at 3 p.m. All-American
Shane Komine (1-1, 10.24) will take the hill for the Huskers and will
be opposed by Andy Gros for the Ragin' Cajuns. The game will be televised
by KXVO-WB 15
Source: University
of Nebraska Sports Information
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