Huskers Force Second Title Game with SMS - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site

Senior left-hander Jamie Rodrigue picked up his first win of the season by tossing a season-long 7.1 innings to pitch the Huskers into a NCAA Lincoln Regional Championship game rematch with Southwest Missouri State at Hawks Field on Sunday afternoon.

With the victory, Nebraska improved to 47-17, while SMS slipped to 37-24. The second title game between NU and SMS is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. central time today.

Rodrigue, who missed much of the season with injuries, pitched his best outing of the season in a clutch situation for the Huskers, allowing five earned runs while scattering 10 hits. Nine of the 10 SMS hits were singles, and Rodrigue issued just one walk while striking out four Bears to pick up his first win since May 18, 2002, and improve to 1-1 on the season.

The Husker offense produced all the runs Rodrigue would need with a six-run eruption in the bottom of the second inning. Daniel Bruce, who enjoyed a 2-for-4 day at the plate including his third home run of the regional, led off the second with a double. Bruce moved to third when Joe Gullion