March 15, 2006
Box Score
LINCOLN, Neb. -
The five-game spring break road trip for the Illinois State baseball team ended in defeat, as the Redbirds fell 12-6 against the No. 3 Nebraska Cornhuskers Wednesday at Hawks Field. ISU drops to 2-11 overall in 2006, while the Huskers win their ninth-straight game and improve to 13-2.
Freshman Jim Sajewich (0-1) suffered his first loss of the season after relieving ISU starter Kitt Kopach. Sajewich gave up eight earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched against Nebraska. Jon Klausing (1-0) earned the win for the Huskers after pitching 2.1 innings of relief and giving up just one run in relief of Tim Radmacher.
Nebraska scored a run in the bottom of the first inning when Nick Jaros scored from third base after a failed pickoff attempt by Kopach of Ryan Wehrle at first base, making the score 1-0 in favor of the Huskers. But, the `Birds would work to get that run back in the top of the second when Matt Bolt drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Kevin Dubler from third to tie the score at 1-1.
ISU took the lead in the top of the third innings after a one-out walk to Kyle O'Brien and a single by Jesse Griswold gave the Redbirds runners at first and third base with one out. Dubler then reached first base on a fielder's choice and O'Brien scored to put ISU up 2-1.
However, the Huskers would take the lead back in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs off two Husker home runs. Nick Jaros tied the score at 2-2 with a solo home run over the left field wall and Andrew Brown's second home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field, put Nebraska up 4-2.
The rollercoaster of lead changes continued when ISU struck back in the top of the fourth innings with three runs to take the lead 5-4. With the bases loaded and no outs, Jay Molina grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Brian Davis for the first run of the frame. A pinch-hit single by Nick Crist scored Matt Bolt for the second run of the inning and a sacrifice fly by Griswold that scored Molina gave the `Birds the lead after four innings.
Five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning by Nebraska gave the Huskers the lead back at 9-5. A two-run home run by Luke Gorsett, his eighth of the year, and a two-run double by Jake Mort paced the rally with Bryce Nimmo capping off the five-run inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Andy Gerch. The Huskers would also add a run in the sixth inning to extend the lead to five runs at 10-5.
Two more runs in the bottom of the seventh extended the Husker lead to 12-5, but the Redbirds got a run back in the top of the eighth inning on a Molina double to deep center field that scored Bolt from third to bring the score to 12-6.
Crist and Griswold each had two hits and each had an RBI on the afternoon against the Huskers, while Molina chipped in two RBI and scored a run for ISU. Gorsett led the Huskers, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Brown and Mort each had two RBI in the win.
ISU's next game will be its first at Redbird Field this season, as the Redbirds face the Central Michigan Chippewas (7-6) for a four-game home weekend series beginning Friday at 2:00 p.m. in Normal, Ill. The teams will play one game on Friday and Sunday, with a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday beginning at 1:30 p.m.
