Baseball 2001

March 31

Huskers Walk to 10-5 Victory

NORMAN, OKLA. - Third baseman Jeff Blevins went 1-for-3 with four RBI, as eighth-ranked Nebraska improved to 21-7 on the season with a 10-5 victory over Oklahoma in front of a crowd of 1,017 at L. Dale Mitchell Field Saturday afternoon.

Blevins, a product of Sand Springs, Okla., delivered a three-run double off OU starter Rocky Cherry in the second and had an bases-loaded walk in a six-run third, as the Huskers, who improve to 7-2 in the Big 12, jumped to a 10-0 lead after three innings and cruised to their fourth straight win.

"He tried to hang a slider, and I was able to drive it," Blevins, who was playing in front of nearly 20 of his family members. "I played some games on this field over the summer a couple of years ago, and I feel comfortable playing here."

"When Jeff is hot, he is able to drive in a lot of runs for us," Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn said. "It was good to see him get going. If people are going to walk (Dan) Johnson and (Matt) Hopper, we need out 5-7 hitters to drive in runs."

Nebraska jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second off Cherry. The Huskers loaded the bases on a walk to Dan Johnson, a single by Justin Seely and a walk to Jed Morris before Blevins cleared the bases with a three-run double to right center and advanced to third on an error by Sooner right fielder Denver Kitch. Blevins later scored on Brandon Eymann's sacrifice fly to left, to give NU a four-run advantage.

Cherry, who was scratched from Friday's start because of the flu, lasted two innings, allowing four runs on four hits and walked four to fall to 5-3 on the season. OU dips to 10-21 overall and 5-9 in the league with the defeat.

The Sooners ran into more trouble in the third, as OU reliever Buddy Blair struggled with his control, walking four and hitting another in just 0.1 of an inning. With one out, he walked a pair and hit Morris to load the bases. Blair then walked Blevins and Eymann, giving NU a 6-0 lead, before he was pulled. The freshman left-hander did not allow a hit, but allowed five runs in his short stint. Brandon Hankins then balked in a run before Will Bolt increased the lead to 9-0 with a two-run single up the middle. Jeff Leise ended the outburst, tripling to right to score Bolt for the inning's final tally.

Leise, Bolt and Seely had two hits apiece, as Nebraska managed only eight hits, but walked a season-high 10 times and had two others reach on hit by pitches. Bolt and Brandon Eymann each drove in a pair of runs in the win.

The Huskers gave starter Jamie Rodrigue more than enough support, as the sophomore from St. Clair, Mo. went 6.2 innings and struck out seven to improve to 3-2 on the year, snapping a two-game losing streak. He allowed five runs on 11 hits, before Thom Ott pitched the final 2.1 innings to pick up his third save of the year.

"Jamie gave us all that we wanted and then some today," Van Horn said. "He was able to throw strikes and keep the game under control for us."

Oklahoma trimmed the NU lead to 10-2, scoring a pair of runs in the fourth off Rodrigue. Jerome Godsey, who led OU with four hits, singled off the wall in right to lead off the frame and scored on a double to left by Jason Bartlett. Greg Dobbs then plated OU second run on a grounder to short, scoring Bartlett.

After John Erick Munneke's RBI double in the six trimmed the Husker lead to 10-3, the Sooners closed to within 10-5 in the seventh on Sergio Garcia's two-out two-run double. Dobbs singled and Charlie Frasier walked to load the bases, but Ott came in and got Munneke to strike out looking to end OU's final threat of the game.

The Huskers and Sooners will conclude their three-game series Sunday, beginning at 1p.m. The game will be broadcast by the Pinnacle Sports Network.

Source: University of Nebraska Sports Information