Pekarek Earns First Career Win; Huskers Win 10th Straight - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site

Lincoln - Justin Pekarek (Staplehurst, Neb.) threw five innings for his first career win, as No. 11 Nebraska jumped out to a early lead and used a strong bullpen performance to subdue Western Illinois, 5-3, in front of 2,552 at Hawks Field Wednesday afternoon.

Pekarek, who had not started in over two years and missed all of the 2002 season because of elbow surgery, improved to 1-1 on the season, scattering six hits and allowing three runs in the longest outing of his career. The 6-3 left-hander struck out three and walked a pair in an 80-pitch effort, as he started in place of Jamie Rodrigue, who missed the start because of soreness in his arm.

"It was a win, and I'm excited about that," Pekarek said as most of his family was in attendance for his first start at Hawks Field. "It gives me a lot more confidence that I was able to go out there and throw five solid innings on my arm. I'm not 100 percent, but I feel really good. I'm a little rusty and I still have some more work to go, but it's coming along."

"There is a great Nebraska kid getting a win and doing a good job," Head Coach Mike Anderson said after Pekarek