Husker Comeback Falls Short in 8-7 Loss to Rice

Houston, Texas - Eric Arnold's eighth-inning double plated Vincent Sinisi with the game-winning run, as ninth-ranked Rice defeated No. 8 Nebraska, 8-7, in front of a crowd of 2,568 at the Reckling Ballpark in the Crowne-Plaza/Rice Invitational Saturday afternoon.

Arnold laced a one-out double off the outstretched glove of Nebraska left fielder Justin Seely, allowing Sinisi to score from first, beat the relay throw with the winning run to give the Owls, who improved to 5-1 on the season, the win. Mike Sillman (0-1) took the loss in relief for Nebraska, allowing one run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning, as the Huskers dipped to 1-1 on the season.

The loss overshadowed a gallant Nebraska comeback, which saw the Huskers overcome a 7-3 deficit by scoring three times in the seventh and another in the eighth before Arnold, who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored, knocked in the winning run.

"It was good to see the effort and that we didn't quit when we got behind early," Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn. "With better pitching and better job in the field, we could have won today."

In the seventh, Daniel Bruce was hit by a pitch to start the frame before Joe Simokaitis' one-out single to left put runners on first and second. A double steal moved both runners into scoring position before Jeff Blevins singled to center, cutting the Owl lead to 7-5. Phillip Tribe came into the game for Owl starter Justin Crowder and hit Jed Morris before Matt Hopper singled up the middle, putting the Huskers within 7-6.

Blevins tied a career high with four hits, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs to pace the Huskers' 11 hit attack, while Jeff Leise and Simokaitis added two hits and two runs scored for NU.

While Blevins provided much of the NU offense, left-hander Jamie Rodrigue kept the Huskers within striking distance, allowing two runs in 5.1 innings of relief. The junior scattered six hits and struck out three after Husker starter Jason Burch was knocked out of the game in the second inning.

"Jamie did a good job of coming out of the bullpen and keeping us in the game," Van Horn said.

The Huskers erased the deficit with a two-out rally in the top of the eighth. With pinch runner Josh Birmingham on second, Jeff Leise walked before Blevins' infield single loaded the bases for Jed Morris. The Husker catcher promptly hit a hard grounder that Arnold misplayed for an error, allowing Birmingham to score the tying run from third. The Huskers caught a bad break on the play, as Leise, who was running on contact, slipped between third and home, and was forced back to third. The Huskers left the bases loaded for the second straight inning, as Tribe, who pitched 2.1 innings of relief to move to 1-1 on the season, struck out Hopper with the bases loaded to end the threat.

The Huskers got off to a fast start, scoring a run the top of the first off Rice starter Justin Crowder. Jeff Leise doubled and moved to third on Jeff Blevins' single, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Jed Morris brought the first run home on a sacrifice fly to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The lead would not last long, as the Owls plated a pair of runs in the first and four more in the second to take a 6-1 advantage. In the first, NU starter Jason Burch struggled with his control, walking the bases loaded. The sophomore was seemingly out of the jam when Mike Lorsbach hit a grounder to short, but the ball got by Simokaitis, allowing two unearned runs to score on the play. Rice extended the lead to 6-1, scoring four runs - all with two outs. Sinisi knocked Burch out of the game with an RBI single before Arnold greeted Rodrigue with a two-run double down the right field line. Dane Bubela capped the outburst with an RBI triple, staking the hosts a five-run lead. Burch allowed five runs (three earned) on two hits in 1.2 innings, but walked three and hit another in the shortest start of his career.

Nebraska trimmed the deficit in the third with a pair of runs, highlighted by a Blevins' RBI single. The Owls pushed the margin to 7-3 on a solo home run by Enrique Cruz before Rodrigue settled down and the hosts scoreless until the eighth, providing the Huskers with an opportunity for a comeback.

The Huskers conclude play in the tournament Sunday afternoon, when they take on 15th-ranked Wake Forest at Noon (CST).