Huskers Finish Opening Series with 5-0 Record

Hilo, Hawaii --- Brandon Fusilier and Trey Adams each knocked in a pair of runs and Phil Shirek threw 5.0 innings of one-run ball to lead Nebraska to an 8-1 victory over Hawaii-Hilo Sunday at Wong Stadium. With the victory, Nebraska improved to 5-0 with a sweep of the Vulcans while UHH dropped to 1-17 on the year.   Leading 2-1, Nebraska broke open the game with a six-run sixth inning.   Adams got Nebraska rolling in the frame, as he tripled to left to score Curtis Ledbetter, who opened the inning with a single to third. Adams scored on Jeff Christy's RBI single to center field before leadoff hitter Bryce Nimmo knocked in Christy from second. Nimmo advanced to third on Joe Simokaitis' RBI single up the middle and scored on a balk. Preseason All-American Alex Gordon then walked before he and Simokaitis completed a double steal. Simokaitis scored on Fusilier's groundout to short for the first out of the inning.   Shirek (1-0) allowed one hit in the fifth before leaving for Joe Klausing. Shirek allowed four hits and one unearned run over 5.0 innings while striking out four with three walks. Klausing went 2.0 innings of relief without allowing a hit, and allowed just one baserunner, who reached on an error. Luke Wertz came in for Klausing to start the eighth and posted 2.0 scoreless innings while recording three strikeouts.   Nebraska struck first with a run in the top of the first. With two outs, Gordon walked and stole second before Fusilier singled in the run before being tagged out trying to advance to second.   The Huskers added a second run in the next frame as Ledbetter doubled to left and moved to third on a passed ball. Adams grounded out to short to drive in the Huskers' second run of the day.   Nimmo finished the day going 3-for-5 with a run and RBI from his leadoff position, while Ledbetter went 2-for-3 with two runs. Fusilier and Adams each went 1-for-4 with two RBIs.    Nebraska returns to Lincoln to prepare for the Crowne Plaza/Rice Invitational in Houston next weekend. The Huskers open play on Friday, Feb. 25, when they take on New Mexico at 1 p.m., and follow up with contests against nationally ranked Rice at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26, and at Noon on Sunday, Feb. 27, against Western Carolina.         The Automated ScoreBook Nebraska at Hawaii Hilo Feb 20, 2005 at Hilo, Hawaii (Wong Stadium)

Nebraska 8 (5-0)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Nimmo, Bryce cf.......... 5 1 3 1 0 0 3 0 0 Simokaitis, Joe ss....... 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 Wehrle, Ryan ss......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 Gordon, Alex 3b.......... 3 1 0 0 2 1 0 2 2 Fusilier, Brandon lf..... 4 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 Gerch, Andy ph/lf....... 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Buckman, Brandon dh...... 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Bohanan, Ryan ph........ 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Ledbetter, Curtis 1b..... 3 2 2 0 0 0 9 0 0 Adams, Trey rf........... 4 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 2 Christy, Jeff c.......... 4 1 1 1 0 0 5 1 0 Hightower, Mark c....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Opitz, Jake 2b........... 4 1 1 0 0 2 5 4 0 Shirek, Phil p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Klausing, Jon p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wertz, Luke p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 37 8 11 7 3 7 27 14 6

Hawaii Hilo 1 (1-17)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Sean Tamura rf........... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 Matthew Haasenritter ph/ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Chris Campbell cf........ 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 Dayne Ogawa cf.......... 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 David Chu lf............. 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 Johnny Dudoit 3b......... 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 3 1 Tylor Prudhomme 3b...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Alvis Satele 1b.......... 3 0 0 0 1 1 14 0 0 Jimmy Crider ss.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 Alex Peck ph............ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Michael Higa dh.......... 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Mark Veneri dh.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tyler Curtis c........... 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 3 0 Kaiana Trask ph......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ryan Taiariol c......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Gary Ahu, Jr. 2b......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 5 0 Kyle Neuberger p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tyson Usui p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Daniel Vitro p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 30 1 6 0 3 7 27 15 6

Score by Innings R H E ------------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 110 060 000 - 8 11 2 Hawaii Hilo......... 010 000 000 - 1 6 0 -------------------------------------------

E - Wehrle, R.; Christy, J.. DP - Nebraska 3. LOB - Nebraska 6; Hawaii Hilo 6. 2B - Ledbetter; Dudoit. 3B - Adams, T.. HBP - Ledbetter. SH - Crider. SB - Simokaitis; Gordon, A. 2. CS - Chu.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF ----------------------------------------------- Shirek, Phil........ 5.0 4 1 0 3 4 17 21 Klausing, Jon....... 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 6 6 Wertz, Luke......... 2.0 2 0 0 0 3 7 7

Hawaii Hilo IP H R ER BB SO AB BF ----------------------------------------------- Kyle Neuberger...... 4.0 8 8 7 2 3 19 21 Tyson Usui.......... 4.0 2 0 0 0 4 14 15 Daniel Vitro........ 1.0 1 0 0 1 0 4 5

Win - Shirek, P. (1-0). Loss - Neuberger (0-1). Save - None. WP - Usui. HBP - by Usui (Ledbetter). BK - Neuberger. PB - Curtis. Umpires - HP: Bob Simmons 1B: Norman Kaaihui 3B: Ben Doss Start: Noon Time: 2:47 Attendance: 200 Neuberger faced 7 batters in the 5th. Game: UHH-18