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May 26, 2002, Big 12 Tournament
Huskers fall to Texas in 10 innings, 9-6
 
Arlington, TX -- Big 12 Tournament MVP Dustin Majewski�s 10th-inning RBI single broke a 6-6 tie, as fifth-ranked Texas defeated No. 13 Nebraska, 9-6, at the Ballpark in Arlington Sunday afternoon.

Majewski, who batted .500 and drove in 10 runs in the tournament, roped a single to right, scoring Ryan Hubele from second, as he barely beat the throw by Daniel Bruce at the plate. Eric Sultemeier followed with a two-run homer that just cleared the right field fence to seal the championship for the Longhorns. Nebraska went down in order in the bottom of the inning, as Huston Street pitched the final 1.2 innings for his fourth win.

It was Texas� first Big 12 baseball title in the six years of the tournaments existence, and the first conference title for the Longhorns since the 1994 Southwest Conference title. With the wins, Texas improved to 48-14 on the season, while the Huskers fell to 42-18, snapping NU�s season-long 11-game winning streak.

In a wild game which saw NU battle back from a pair of deficits to send the game into extra innings, Waylon Byers allowed the decisive run in the 10th, falling to 1-5 on the year. Byers, who struck out two in 1.2 innings, allowed the leadoff double in the 10th, before he was replaced by Jeremy Becker, who allowed Majewski�s base hit and two more runs in the 10th.

The Huskers had 11 hits, including three by Jeff Leise and two apiece from Will Bolt and Jed Morris. Bolt joined catcher John Grose, as NU�s representatives on the 13-member all-tournament team

Texas jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, utilizing a passed ball and three consecutive hits, capped by Dustin Majewski�s RBI single to spot the Longhorns a one-run lead. UT loaded the bases with no outs, but Duensing got out of the jam by striking out Eric Sultemeier and Kalani Napoleon and getting Tim Moss to line out to end the threat.

The Longhorns extended the lead to 4-0 in the third as Ryan Hubele belted a three-run homer to left, his fourth of the season off Duensing, who allowed four runs on five hits in three innings. Omar Quintanilla opened the inning with a double before Jeff Ontiveros was hit by a pitch with one out, putting runners on first and second before the Longhorn catcher belted the NU starter�s first offering over the fence in left for a round tripper.

Nebraska had chances in the middle innings, putting two runners on in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but could not capitalize off Simmons. Will Bolt opened the third inning with a leadoff single, extending his hit streak to 15 games, before Brandon Eyeman walked to put runners on first and second with no outs, but Simmons retired next three batters, getting Jed Morris to strikeout to end the inning. In the fourth, a single by John Grose and a two-out walk to John Grose put runners on first and second with two outs, but the Longhorn left-hander got Bolt to fly out to end the threat. In the fifth, consecutive two-out singles by Daniel Bruce and Morris, but Simmons struck out Hopper to end the inning.

Simmons threw five scoreless innings, scattering four hits for Texas, which won four straight games to reach the title game for the first time in Big 12 play, but was not involved in the decision, as the Huskers chipped away at the deficit.

The Huskers got on the board in the sixth off Longhorn reliever Jesen Merle, as Justin Seely was hit by a pitch with two outs before Will Bolt tripled to center, as the ball bounded past a diving Napoleon in center, allowing Seely to score from first on the play.

NU tied the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three unearned runs off Merle, as NU took advantage of a fielding error by Michael Holliman. With one out, Jed Morris hit a grounder that the Longhorn shortstop misplayed, putting Huskers at first and second. Hopper then drove a single to load the bases before Merle hit Blevins with a pitch to cut the Longhorn lead to 4-2. John Groce then greeted Texas reliever Daniel Mugge with a RBI single scoring Morris to put NU within a run. Will Bolt drove in his second run of the day, coaxing a bases loaded walk to knot the game at 4-4.

Marsden ran into trouble in the eighth, hitting Ontiveros and walking Hubele to put runners on first and second before Dustin Majewski�s sacrifice bunt moved runners into scoring position. Marsden�s wild pitch gave UT a 5-4 lead before Holliman atoned for his error with an RBI single to give UT a two-run lead.

NU came back in the eighth, scoring twice off Daniel Muggie to deadlock the contest. Leise opened the inning with a leadoff single and Daniel Bruce was plunked for the 23rd time this season, putting runners on first and second. Jed Morris put NU within a run with an RBI single to right before Hopper tied the game for with a sacrifice fly to center, sending the contest into extra innings.

The Huskers return home tonight and will await the announcement of the NCAA Regional pairings that will be announced at 11:30 a.m. Monday morning. The Huskers will gather at Fox and Hound, located at 201 North 8th Street and coaches and players will be made available following the selection show.

Nebraska Postgame Notes
Today�s game marked the first time since the season opener on Feb. 15, that NU had played an extra inning game and snapped NU�s streak of three consecutive extra-inning wins dating back to last season.
Nebraska falls to 16-2 all-time in four Big 12 Tournament appearances and the loss snaps NU�s 12-game tournament winning streak dating back to the 2002 Big 12 Tournament opener, a 12-10 loss to Missouri
Today�s loss marks the 8th time in 18 losses that NU had lost an opponent�s final at-bat this season
Texas held Nebraska without a run in the first inning, ending the Huskers� streak of seven straight innings with a run. In fact, NU had scored at least one run in 17 of the past 18 innings dating back to the tournament opener against Baylor.
Bolt�s single in the third inning extended his hit streak to 15 games, his longest streak since a 16-game streak as a freshman in 1999. He also picked up his 20th multi-hit game of the year with the triple in the fifth, his 12th career triple that tied Ken Sirak (1988-89) for eighth on NU lists.
As a team, NU has been plunked 91 times, breaking the school record of 88 set in 1994.
Bolt�s RBI triple extended Nebraska�s streak of scoring at least one run to 257 games, the second-longest current streak in college baseball and the 11th longest streak in NCAA history.

All-Tournament Team
Catcher - John Grose (Nebraska)
First Base - Jeff Ontiveros (Texas)
Second Base - Will Bolt (Nebraska)
Third Base - Jake Brown (Texas Tech)
Shortstop - Osmar Castillo (Kansas State)
Outfield - Dustin Majewski (Texas)
Outfield - Jason Fransz (Oklahoma)
Outfield - Pat Maloney (Kansas State)
Designated Hitter - J.D. Reininger (Texas)
Starting Pitcher - Mark Roberts (Oklahoma)
Starting Pitcher - Ray Clark (Texas)
Relief Pitcher - Huston Street (Texas)
Utility Player - Ty Soto (Kansas State)
 
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER - Dustin Majewski (Texas)

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.