Huskers Handle Leathernecks, 10-2

Lincoln - Joe Simokaitis' three-run double highlighted an eight-run eighth inning, as eighth-ranked Nebraska downed Western Illinois, 10-2, in front of near freezing temperatures at Hawks Field Tuesday afternoon.

Leading 2-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Huskers sent 12 men to the plate in erupting for eight runs off four Western Illinois pitchers, as the freshman from St. Louis capped the rally with a three-run double down the third base line. Simokaitis, who also made several outstanding defensive plays in the field, went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs, the first runs he has driven in as a Husker.

After managing five hits off WIU starter Ricky McCool through the first six innings, Jeff Leise got the Huskers bats rolling with a triple off the fence in right, his second of the day, to chase the Leatherneck starter. Nick Meyer then walked the next two batters, while Leise scored on a wild pitch to put NU ahead 3-1. NU then tagged reliever John Roach for five runs on four hits, including an RBI double by Matt Hopper and a run-scoring single by Brandon Eymann before Simokaitis ripped a shot down the line to clear the bases.

McCool (0-4) pitched well in defeat, holding NU to three runs on six hits before he was pulled in the bottom of the seventh. "McCool kept us off balance, and we haven't really faced a pitcher like that all season," Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn said. "It took us a while to get things going well offensively."

The outburst was more than enough for the Huskers, as three pitchers held the Leathernecks (2-18) to seven hits on the afternoon, as game-time hovered in the mid-30s all afternoon one day after seven inches of snowfall blanketed Lincoln.

Leise went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and Matt Hopper added three hits, as the Huskers pounded out 12 hits in the win, improving to 15-7 on the season.

Sophomore Jason Burch picked up the win, throwing three innings of one-hit relief to improve to 2-1 on the season. The right-hander from Papillion, Neb., helped the Huskers cling to the one-run lead, pitching out of a dicey situation in the sixth. With runners on the corners and no outs, Burch retired the next three hitters in order to get out of the jam unscathed

"I was really pleased with our pitching today," Van Horn said. "Brian Duensing wasn't real sharp, but he spotted up with his fastball and change-up real well. Jason Burch came in and did a tremendous job shutting them down. Brian and Jason really helped keep us in the game early."

The Huskers jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first, as Justin Seely scored Jed Morris with a two-out RBI single to left center.

The Leathernecks tied the score in the top of the fourth, as Joe Rooney and Pete Tronick belted back-to-back doubles off NU starter Brian Duensing before Rooney, who went 3-for-4 with a homer, scored on McCool's ground out to short.

The Huskers regained the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning, as Simokaitis singled with two outs before Leise plated him with a triple off the wall in right.

The Huskers and Leathernecks conclude the mid-week set Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Hawks Field.