Baseball 2001

Ott Dominates Tech Hitters; Huskers Sweep Texas Tech

March 4, 2001

Lubbock, Texas -- Nos. 12/15 Nebraska became the first team since Texas in 1990 to sweep Texas Tech at Dan Law Field. The Huskers came back from a 5-0 deficit to defeat the Red Raiders 10-8 before a Dan Law Field crowd of 2,530.

Nebraska coach Dave Van Horn was glad to come out of Lubbock with a sweep.

"This was a great weekend for us," Van Horn said. "We showed a lot of resilience today when we were able to come back. It was a real team effort today and everyone came through."

Tech struck for five runs in the first when Nick Blankenship tripled off the wall in center and scored when Chad Landry hit a 1-2 pitch from NU starting pitcher R.D. Spiehs over the fence in right. Austin Cranford then doubled off the wall in left and advanced to third on a single by Jason Rainey. Bryon Smith then hit a home run to score Rainey and Crawford. Waylon Byers then came in to relieve Spiehs.

Nebraska led off the top of the third with a pair of singles by Will Bolt and Tito Rivera put runners at the corners with one out. Adam Stern followed with another single to score Bolt and advance Rivera to second. Matt Hopper then continued his torrid hitting with a double scoring both Stern and Rivera to cut the Tech lead to 2.

Blankenship led off the bottom of the third with a double to right and Landry walked to put runners on first and second before Byers struck Cranford out looking and got Rainey to fly to right. Byers then gave way to Mike Sillman with two outs in the third. Sillman walked Smith, before throwing Blankenship out at the plate when he tried to advance on a wild pitch.

Justin Seely led off the fourth with a double to left-center and advanced on a single by Bolt. Tech starter Brandon Roberson then hit Rivera to put runners at the corners with one out. Stern hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Seely to cut the Tech lead to one.

Tech then put two on the board when Landry led off the Tech fifth with a single and Cranford doubled him to third. Sillman intentionally walked Rainey and Smith singled up the middle to bring home Landry and Cranford. Sillman then forced Carson into a double play to end the inning.

Van Horn brought in Thom Ott in the sixth and he retired the Red Raiders in order. Ott cooled the Tech bats, retiring six of the first seven batters he faced and striking out three on the afternoon while only giving up one run on three hits. He picked up the victory and moved to 1-0 on the season.

The Huskers got a single by Seely but was out at second when Bolt hit into a fielder's choice. Jed Morris, pinch-hitting for Rivera, drew a walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Stern then singled a 1-0 pitch to right to fill the bases. Brandon Eymann singled to right to bring home Bolt. Hopper singled a 1-1 pitch to center to bring home Morris and Stern. Tech brought in lefty Matt Harbin with runners on the corners to face pinch-hitter Willie Jones. Jones hit a sacrifice fly to deep left to score Eymann, and take the lead. John Cole got an infield hit and Hooper scored when Jeff Blevins singled, giving the Huskers a 9-7 lead.

Morris then hit a solo home run in the ninth to add to the Husker lead.

Tech continued to battle as Alvarez led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, and advanced on a wild pitch. After a walk to Landry, Cranford hit a double down the left field line scoring pinch runner Brent Fossum, but it wasn't enough as Ott was able to hold Tech off to end the game.

Nebraska continues their road swing with a double header at Southern Utah Tuesday afternoon before returning home to face Kansas State this weekend in Lincoln.

Source: University of Nebraska Sports Information