March 4, 2008

Baseball Falls to Huskers in Lincoln

Loper Bats Quiet After Two Run First

     Kearney, Neb. –  The Nebraska baseball team scored seven unearned runs and held Nebraska-Kearney to five hits over the final eight innings to beat the Lopers, 11-2, Tuesday afternoon in Lincoln.

      Improving to 44-1 all-time vs. UNK, the Huskers are now 6-2 while the Lopers fall to 6-8.

      Kearney jumped out of the box quickly, getting RBI doubles from junior Nate Swearer (Lincoln) and senior Joe Nowaczyk (Gretna) in the top of the first.  However, UNL starter Casey Houptman settled down (3.0 innings, three hits) and four relievers limited UNK the rest of the way.

      Senior Ryan Wrobel (Scottsdale, Ariz.) took the loss but had his best game of the season, allowing seven hits and two earned runs in five full innings of work.

      UNL scored single runs in each of the first three innings to retake the lead, then added on two unearned runs in the fifth to increase the margin. Thanks to two hits, two wild pitches and a hit batter, the lead then grew to five when UNL scored two runs in the seventh inning off junior Ryan Sheldon (Kearney).

      Another four unearned runs the came across the plate in the bottom of the eighth. In all, UNK had four errors in the contest.

      For the Lopers, Swearer  and sophomore Blake Cover (Kearney Catholic) each went 2 for 4 with senior Joe Gonzales (Lakewood, Colo.) and Trey Howell (Antonito, Colo.) each drawing two walks.

      Left fielder Nick Sullivan went 2 for 2 with three RBI to pace a 12-hit Husker attack.

      UNK stays on the road this weekend with four RMAC games at Regis in Denver. The Lopers are scheduled to have their home opener next Wednesday (March 12^th) vs. Wayne State.