Kroenke, Nimmo Lead Huskers to 11-2 Win

Zach Kroenke tossed eight shutout innings while Bryce Nimmo went 2-for-3 with two homers and a career-high six RBIs, as Nebraska downed Seton Hall, 11-2, Saturday afternoon at Hawks Field.

Kroenke (2-0) turned in his best outing of the season, striking out five and allowing two singles, as he faced only two above the minimum over eight innings. The left-hander was in control all afternoon, allowing only one Pirate into scoring position and was helped out by a pair of Husker double plays.

For Nebraska Coach Mike Anderson, who picked up his 100th career win as Nebraska’s head coach on Saturday, Kroenke’s second straight strong outing highlighted Nebraska’s ninth straight win.

"He did a good job all day and did not have to work out of too many jams," Anderson said. "Through the first five innings, we only got three runs across, and he kept us in it. He pitched eight great innings and probably could have gone nine had he not reached his pitch count. Zach really set the tone for what we want out of him when conference games start next weekend."

While Kroenke continued string of strong starts for NU (17-2), Nimmo powered Nebraska’s 13-hit attack with the first two homers of his career, a two-run shot in the sixth and a three-run blast one inning later. The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder had just one RBI in his first 12 contests before Saturday. Nimmo’s two-homer day was the fourth multi-homer game by a Husker in the last six games, while his six RBIs is the most by a Husker since Matt Hopper had seven RBIs against Missouri in 2003.

Curtis Ledbetter (Lawrence, Kan.) went 2-for-3 with three RBIs while Alex Gordon (Lincoln, Neb.) had two hits, including his seventh round tripper of the season, as Nebraska’s 17-2 mark is the program’s best 19-game start since 1988.

Anthony Seratelli’s two-run homer in the ninth off reliever Matt Foust averted the Huskers’ bid for their second shutout of the season, as the Pirates dipped to 3-9 on the year.

Seton Hall starter Tim Sabo walked the bases loaded in the first before Ledbetter coaxed the fourth walk of the frame to score the Huskers’ first run. Brandon Fusilier (Coppell, Texas) increased the Husker lead two innings later with a run-scoring double to center that scored Gordon, who singled and advanced to second on a Pirate error. Nimmo’s first RBI of the day, a sacrifice fly to left that scored Jake Opitz (Littleton, Colo.), made it 3-0 in the fourth.

That would be more than enough for Kroenke, who retired 11 of 12 Pirates during one stretch and lowered his season ERA to 2.04.

The Huskers broke the game open late, scoring eight runs in the final three innings, highlighted by Nimmo, who homered down the right field line in the sixth to push the lead to 5-0 and capped NU’s five-run seventh with a three-run homer into the bullpen in right.

Sabo (0-3) suffered the loss for Seton Hall, allowing five runs ? three earned ? on seven hits over six innings of work.

The series concludes Sunday morning at 11 a.m., as senior right-hander Phil Shirek (2-0, 1.56 ERA) takes the hill for the Huskers. The start time was moved to 11 a.m. to accommodate Seton Hall’s travel schedule.