Baseball 2001

Huskers Strike Early in 6-3 Victory over Louisiana-Lafayette

Feb. 24, 2001

Lafayette, La. - No. 11 Nebraska spotted All-American Shane Komine with six runs in the first two innings and that proved to be more than enough, as the Huskers won their third straight game, downing Louisiana-Lafayette, 6-3, in front of a crowd of 1,929 at Moore Field Saturday afternoon.

Komine, who entered the game with a 10.24 ERA after his first two starts, allowed three runs (one unearned) in a season-high seven innings to improve to 2-1 on the season. The Honolulu, Hawaii, native scattered seven hits and struck out six in recording his 19th career victory, moving him into a three-way tie for fifth on NU's career win charts.

Nebraska, which improves to 5-3 on the season, handed ULL just its fifth loss in the final 54 home games. The Ragin' Cajuns, who qualified for the College World Series last season, fall to 8-6 on the campaign.

"I'm proud of the way we played today," Komine said. "This is a difficult place to play, and this was a big win for us on the road."

The Huskers took control from the onset, scoring a run in the first and adding five more in the second off ULL starter Andy Gros (0-3), who lasted just over an inning in taking the defeat. The sophomore left-hander allowed six runs (four earned) on seven of Nebraska's nine hits.

In the first, Willie Jones (Torrington, Wyo.) reached on an error by Neil Simoneaux and advanced to second on a bunt single by Adam Stern (London, Ontario). A passed ball put runners on second and third before junior left fielder John Cole (Ottawa, Ontario) plated NU's first run with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Jones.

The Huskers chased Gros in the second, scoring five runs as the first six NU players reached on hits. NU loaded the bases on three consecutive singles before Jeff Leise (Omaha, Neb.) extended the NU lead with a two run single up the middle. The Huskers loaded the bases again before Stern added an RBI infield single and the subsequent throwing error by ULL shortstop Rick Haydel allowed another run to score, giving the Huskers a 5-0 lead. Matt Hopper's (Morrison, Colo.) one-out grounder to first scored Jones with the inning's final tally, as the Huskers batted around and scored four or more runs in an inning for the 10th time this season.

Leise, who extended his hitting streak to eight games, went 1 for 3 with two RBI, while Stern and catcher Tito Rivera paced the NU attack with two hits apiece.

"This is a tough place to play," Nebraska Coach Van Horn said. "Our whole goal was to put pressure on them early. We didn't hit the ball hard, but were able to go the other way and get some hits up the middle early. We were able to jump on them and get Shane some runs early."

"Scoring early on them early was the key," Stern said. "We were able to take the crowd out of the game early, and they weren't as rah-rah after the first two innings."

Louisiana-Lafayette finally got to Komine in the top of the sixth inning, scoring three runs to cut the Husker lead to 6-3. Simoneaux led off with a double and scored on Robert Shelton's RBI single. With one out and runners on first and second after a walk to Tyler Tiesing, the Cajuns got a break, as Bryan Sneed's grounder was misplayed by Jones and thrown into left field, allowing Shelton to score from second. Tiesing later scored on a fielder's choice, as ULL closed to within three, but would get no closer as Komine struck out Doug Vicknair to end the inning.

Junior R.D. Spiehs pitched two scoreless innings to pick up his first save of the season.

Simoneaux and Shelton had two hits each for ULL, as the Ragin' Cajuns were held to just nine hits in the loss.

The Huskers conclude play in the Mardi Gras Ball Sunday morning, as they take on No. 25 Wichita State, which improved to 4-1 on the season with 6-5 come-from-behind win over Ohio State, at 10:30 a.m. Justin Maureau (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will pitch for the Shockers, while Nebraska's starter is undetermined.

Source: University of Nebraska Sports Information