Lubbock, Texas -- Dan
Johnson hit a three-run home run in the as Nebraska scored five runs
in the top of the seventh to defeat Texas Tech 8-7 before a Dan Law
Field crowd of 2,693.
Johnson went 2-4 on the
day with four RBI's.
"It felt good to come
out today and make an impact," Johnson said. "We all came
together today when we got down and got the win. We made some clutch
plays when we needed them."
Coach Dave Van Horn was
pleased with the victory.
"I thought that it
was a great game today," Van Horn said. "Our pitching was
outstanding. Rodrigue had good stuff, Hale pitched outstanding and
Thom Ott came in and did a great job in a tough situation. This was
a big win for us to come in here and take the first two games of the
series."
Nebraska got a run in the
first when Jeff Leise scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of
Matt Hopper. Tech was able to counter the Nebraska run with a run
of their own in the bottom of the first when Anthony Arnerich came
home on a single by Gera Alvarez.
Nebraska was able to get
another run in the second when catcher Jed Morris doubled in Will
Bolt, but Tech scored a run in the third when Tyler Carson singled
in Bryon Smith.
A 43 minute rain-delay
suspended play in the top of the fifth, with the score tied at two.
When play resumed, Brandon
Eymann led off the top of the fifth with a single, but Leise grounded
into a double-play to end the Husker threat. Nebraska again had a
runner in scoring position when Dan Johnson doubled with one out in
the sixth, but Tech pitcher Chris Phillips struck out John Cole and
Jeff Blevins to end the inning.
Tech put runners on first
and second with one out in the bottom of the sixth and Nick Blankenship
responded with a single to left scoring Arnerich.
Steve Hale relieved Rodrigue
with runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the
sixth.
Rodrigue threw 5.1 innings,
giving up four runs on six hits while striking out four.
Tech scored two in the
sixth, but the rally ended when Hopper caught a line drive off the
bat off pinch hitter Jason Rainey.
The NU bats woke up in
the seventh when Jed Morris drew a walk and Brandon Eymann doubled
home Drew Anderson who ran for Morris. After Leise flied out to left,
Adam Stern doubled down the left field line to bring home Eymann.
Tech then intentionally walked Hopper to face Johnson. Johnson crushed
a 2-1 pitch from Blake McGinley to right center, scoring both Hopper
and Stern for his first homerun of the season.
The Huskers scored again
in the ninth with a pair of singles off the bats of Leise and Stern.
Hopper walked for the second time. Willie Jones hit for Johnson in
the ninth, sending a sacrifice fly deep to right to score Leise. Cole
flied out to end the inning.
Tech didn't lie down as
Rainey hit a two-run homerun with one out in the ninth to cut the
Husker lead to two, and Brennan Burns singled up the center to keep
the Red Raider rally alive. Thom Ott relieved Hale with one out in
the ninth. Nick Blankenship singled to left, bringing in Arnerich
and putting runners at first and second. Ott then struck out Hodges
looking to record the save.
Hale threw three innings
of relief for the win. Hale gave up three runs on three hits, while
striking out two.
With a pair of singles
tonight, Leise and Hopper both extended their hitting streaks to 11
and 12 games, respectively.
The same two teams will
meet again tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m., as Nebraska will go for the
sweep in the series.
Source: University
of Nebraska Sports Information
& 
