Okie State v Nebraska series thread

Eric the Red · April 8, 2007

NU Sports Information

Talk about it in Red Sea Scrolls

Johnny Dorn allowed two runs over six innings, while Nebraska pounded 13 hits to record its second consecutive win over No. 13 Oklahoma State, downing the Cowboys, 9-2, at Hawks Field Saturday afternoon.

Johnny Dorn pitched six strong innings to improve to 5-1.

The 3,186 fans that endured temperatures in the mid-30s watched the Huskers cool off one of the nation's top hitting offenses, holding Oklahoma State to just two runs for the second straight afternoon in picking up its first conference series win of the season. The win also snapped OSU's streak of eight straight series wins dating back to last April.

Dorn picked up his fifth straight decision, striking out eight and scattering five hits to up his record to 5-1 on the season. The right-hander allowed just three hits over his first five innings and combined with Matt Foust to hold OSU to just two runs for the second straight game.

"Prior to the game, I made the comment that Johnny would have to locate his pitches today and he did that," Nebraska Head Coach Mike Anderson said. "I don't ever believe he is overpowering, but when he's at his best, he locates pitches, and that's what he did all day long."

Foust fanned four over three shutout innings for his first save of the year and has a 0.75 ERA in four Big 12 appearances.

While Dorn and Foust kept Oklahoma State's offense at bay, Nebraska (19-11, 5-6 Big 12) pounded out 13 hits and plated four runs in both the first and fourth innings to jump out to an 8-1 lead en route to its seventh win in the last nine contests. Andrew Brown finished the day with a 3-for-4 effort and two RBIs as every starter had at least one hit. Jeff Tezak drove in three runs, while Andy Gerch was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

Nebraska's bats struck early against OSU starter Robbie Weinhardt (2-1), stringing together four straight two-out hits to get to a 4-0 lead. With two outs and DJ Belfonte at first, Brown scored the Huskers' leadoff hitter with a double to left center before coming around on Jake Opitz's RBI single. After Craig Corriston's single put runners on the corners, Gerch delivered the decisive blow with a two-run double, giving Nebraska all the runs they would need.

After Oklahoma State (22-8, 5-3 Big 12) pulled to within 4-1 in the top of the fourth, Nebraska put the game out of reach with four runs in the bottom half of the frame, highlighted by five straight hits off three different OSU relievers. With one out, Mitch Abeita's RBI single scored Gerch, who led off the inning with a single and moved to second on Bryce Nimmo's sacrifice bunt. Consecutive singles by Belfonte and Ryan Wehrle loaded the bases before Tezak's two-run single to center off reliever Brandon Adams pushed the margin to 7-1 before Brown's third hit of the day, an RBI single off Jeff Breedlove, gave NU an 8-1 cushion.

"We had two big innings, but we just had guys doing what we expected them to do at the plate," Anderson said. "It's easy to say when the wind is blowing out to start thinking about hitting home runs. You have to stay focused. I liked our approach at the plate."

OSU trimmed the deficit to 8-2 in the sixth, as Corey Brown doubled to open the inning and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat off Ty Wright.

The Cowboys, who lost consecutive games for just the second time in 2007, had a golden opportunity to draw closer in the seventh, as an error and a walk put two on and two outs. Foust came out of the bullpen and shut the door, striking out the first two hitters he faced eventually getting Matt Mangini to ground out with the bases loaded to end the threat.

NU tacked on another run in the eighth on a Tezak sacrifice fly that plated Abeita, who doubled and eventually moved to third on a sacrifice bunt.

The Huskers will go for the sweep Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. The game will be carried on the Husker Sports Network and on the Internet at Huskers.com.