Baseball 2001

Husker Comeback Falls Short in 6-5 Loss

March 20, 2001

Wichita, Kan. -- Fourth-ranked Nebraska nearly overcame a six-run deficit, but Wichita State third baseman Brian Burgamy went 2 for 4 with a homer and five RBI, as the Shockers downed the Huskers, 6-5, in front of a crowd of 4,269 at Eck Stadium Tuesday evening.

Burgamy delivered a two-run double in the third and hit his second homer of the season, a three-run shot, in the fifth, providing the Shockers (11-8) nearly all the offense they would need to defeat NU (16-5) for the first time since 1997. The WSU win also avenged an 8-7 setback to the Huskers earlier this season.

WSU took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third, scoring a pair of runs on Burgamy’s two-run double. Second baseman Brandon Green and first baseman Logan Sorensen led off the innings with consecutive singles before Nebraska starter Jamie Rodrigue retired the next two batters. With two outs, Burgamy lined a 2-1 Rodrigue offering down the left field line, plating Green and Sorenson.

The Shockers increased the lead to 6-0, scoring four in the bottom of the fifth. Singles by Tanner Welch and Justin McCardy put runners on first and third and chased Rodrigue. Burgamy, who went 0-3 in the first meeting, greeted Hale with a three-run homer to center, giving the Shockers a five-run cushion. Wichita State added another run later in the inning off Hale as Randy Walter walked, stole second and scored on Ryan Owen’s RBI single.

Rodrigue, who had beaten the Shockers in his last two outings, allowed five runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings to drop to 2-2 on the season.

Shocker starter John Tetuan, who entered the game with a 0-1 record and a 14.40 ERA, held the Huskers in check, allowing just three hits through the first five innings to pick up the win to improve to 1-1 on the year.

Nebraska, which had not been shut out since the 1998 season, finally mounted a comeback in the top of the eighth. Adam Stern led off the inning with a triple to right off Shocker reliever Reuben Kerbs before Matt Hopper walked, putting runners on first and third. Dan Johnson singled up the middle, scoring Stern with the first run. After a fielder’s choice, Jeff Blevins cut the lead to 5-2 with an RBI single to right, knocking Kerbs out of the game. The Shockers put in closer Steve Haines, who had not allowed an earned run in his seven previous appearances, but Jed Morris’ third homer of the season, a towering shot to deep right, cut the WSU lead to 6-5.

In the ninth, the Huskers put the winning run on first base as Johnson drew a two-out walk before Cole singled, putting runners on first and second. Haines ended the Husker threat, striking out Jeff Blevins for the final out, to record his third save of the season.

Stern and Morris each had two hits for the Huskers in the losing effort, while four Shockers had two hits each in the win.

Nebraska returns to action on Friday, March 23, when the Huskers play host to Missouri in a three-game conference series. Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Source: University of Nebraska Sports Information