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Missouri State
Feb. 20, 2011
 
Grand slam equals win.
 
San Marcos, Texas — The Huskers pounded out 16 runs on 24 hits and Kale Kiser gave NU a grand slam for the second straight game as Nebraska (3-1) defeated Missouri State (1-3), 16-4, in its last game of the Texas State Tournament on Sunday in San Marcos, Texas.

Junior outfielder Kale Kiser had a spectacular offensive showing with a 5-for-6 day, including a second inning grand slam that put the Huskers on top 5-0. Kiser, NU's leadoff hitter with a .700 on-base percentage through four games, came within a double of completing the cycle. His grand slam followed Kalkowski's on Saturday night against Washington, highlighting a three-game winning streak that has seen Nebraska produce a combined 34 runs and 46 hits.

"It was a good day for us," head coach Mike Anderson said. "The kids just kept swinging it and in a timely manner with the grand slam. It was good that we got some runs early. That freed up some kids to take some chances and do some things. It was a good day on the offensive side."

Nebraska's pitching was also solid, as starting right hander Sean Yost (1-0) earned the win, throwing 5 2/3 innings while giving up three runs on nine hits. It was the third straight game that the Husker starter went at least five innings.

The Husker offense exploded for seven runs on seven hits in the fourth to take a commanding 12-1 lead. In NU's most active half-inning of the young season, the Big Red batted around the order. Josh Scheffert and Chad Christensen each hit triples, while Khiry Cooper and Cody Asche added doubles. The Huskers also took advantage of two MSU errors early in the inning.

The outburst started when Farmer was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game and the sixth time in 11 bats to begin the season. He scored on a Cooper RBI double down left field line before Kiser singled to left. Kiser was then caught leaning off first but a mishandled run down by the short stop allowed Cooper to score from third.

After NU knocked out MSU starter Clay Murphy, Scheffert immediately hit a deep RBI triple to right center and then scored on Burleson's RBI single to shallow right. Christensen hit one of two NU triples on the day to bring in Burleson and finish off the seven-run inning, which put the Huskers ahead 12-1.

Nebraska scored in three of the first four innings, including the four-run second via Kiser's grand slam. The Plano, Texas native had Patric Tolentino, Farmer and Cooper on the base paths and sent a 3-1 pitch off the bottom of the right field scoreboard, just above the wall. Kiser led off the game with his second career triple and then came around to score Nebraska's first run when Asche hit an RBI double down the right field line two batters later.

After singles in fourth and fifth innings, Kiser had two chances to complete the cycle but could not get the double as he reached on an error and had an infield single in his last two trips to the plate. Kiser scored four runs, including the seventh when he scored on one of Asche's three doubles, before Burleson singled home Asche.

The Huskers also added two in the eighth, highlighted by a Bryan Peters RBI double down the third base line.

Christensen, Asche and Peters all had three-hit days, while Burleson, Tolentino and Cooper added two each.

The Huskers have scored at least eight runs in seven of their past eight games dating back to last season. Nebraska is averaging nine runs and nearly 13 hits per game in 2011.

Nebraska will travel back to Texas next week for another four-game set. The Huskers will be in Huntsville as they meet both Sam Houston and Northern Colorado twice.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.