Quantcast HuskerMax

  
 
Stats & coverage
Box score
LJS
OWH
BBS
North Dakota
Photos
Huskers.com
Video
Huskers.com
Mar. 19, 2011
 
Huskers Claim Series Sweep of North Dakota
 
Lincoln, Neb. — Nebraska (14-7) completed a four-game sweep of North Dakota (1-14) by overcoming a three-run deficit for the second straight game in an 8-6 win at Hawks Field on Sunday afternoon.

Kurt Farmer homered and drove in three runs in a 3-for-5 day, while Khiry Cooper went 3-for-4 with an RBI on a game-tying double in the seventh inning.

"It was highly competitive," head coach Mike Anderson said. "They (Nebraska) rose their game up to a different level. What we're trying to get is for them to play at that level all the time. There were some great at-bats when we were down and with two strikes. Again, if we can get Casey Hauptman on the mound we feel like we can win a baseball game."

Hauptman earned the win for the Huskers to improve to 3-1 on the season. Tied 3-3, he entered the game with a runner on first and no outs in the seventh inning. That runner, Jake Magner, went on to score the go-ahead run, credited to NU's Dylan Vogt, as Hauptman allowed three hits and a pair of runs that gave UND a 6-3 lead heading to the bottom the seventh. The Huskers responded in a big way with five runs in the seventh and eighth, while Hauptman settled in on the mound and gave up only one hit over the final two innings to preserve the 8-6 victory.

Nebraska's three-run seventh to tie the game at 6-6 was powered by Cody Asche's leadoff triple. Asche drilled a full count pitch off UND starter David Spies off the right center field wall for NU's third triple of the day, marking the second time this season the Huskers have tallied three triples in one game. Farmer singled through the left side to score Asche and later came around to score himself following a Chad Christensen double and sacrifice fly to right from Josh Scheffert. Cooper delivered the final shot of the inning with an RBI double to left center to score Christensen for the game-tying run.

Michael Pritchard led off the eighth inning with an infield single to first, as he slid head first into the bag to beat out the throw from first baseman Matt Richer to Spies. Pritchard was sac bunted to second by Bryan Peters and NU then loaded the bases following an intentional walk to Asche and hit by pitch on Kash Kalkowski, who was the first batter to reliever Zac Salfer. With a one-out, bases loaded situation, Farmer hit a grounder to shortstop which looked to be an inning-ending double play. However, Kris Kwak's throw to first was high, allowing Asche and Pritchard to score the eventual game-winning runs.

Nebraska took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a solo home run by Kurt Farmer and an RBI triple from Scheffert. Farmer's round-tripper was his second in as many games and landed in nearly the same spot as Sunday's grand slam that ended up on the left field berm. The Columbus, Neb., native extended his hitting streak to seven games, a team-best streak that is matched by Christensen, Scheffert and Asche.

North Dakota matched the two-spot in the top of the third as Seth Means hit a two-run homer, a high shot that barely cleared the left field fence above the reach of Pritchard. NU answered to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom half on Kalkowski's RBI triple to left center field before the Fighting Sioux evened the score again at 3-3 with a run in the fourth.

The fourth inning was the last complete frame for NU starter Brandon Pierce, who went 4 1/3 while giving up three runs on four hits while striking out four and walking four. He was relieved in the fifth by Vogt, who threw 1 2/3 before Hauptman took over to complete the final three.

Nebraska outscored North Dakota in the four-game series, 34-11, although it was challenged nearly the entire weekend. The Huskers scored 14 of their runs in the seventh inning alone, including Sunday's three-run seventh that tied the game.

Cooper finished the series with a team-best .600 batting average, as he went 6-for-10 at the plate with three RBIs. Asche hit .500 against the Fighting Sioux with three doubles, while Farmer batted .389 with a team-best nine RBIs.

The Huskers will remain at home this week for Tuesday (6:35 p.m.) and Wednesday (1:35 p.m.) contests against Northern Colorado. Nebraska opens the Big 12 schedule this Friday at Texas Tech.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.