SWEET SWEEP! Huskers Win 5 Straight for Big 12 Title

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Oklahoma City, Okla. ? Brian Duensing and Brett Jensen combined for a complete-game shutout as No. 4 Nebraska swept the Big 12 regular-season and tournament crowns by defeating No. 9 Baylor, 1-0, to earn its fourth Big 12 Tournament title Sunday at the SBC Bricktown Ballpark. The Huskers, who earned the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament by winning the showdown of regular-season conference co-champions, have won 10 of their last 11 games heading into next weekend's NCAA Regional at Hawks Field in Lincoln. 

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In the lowest scoring game in tournament history, Duensing (7-0) out-dueled Baylor ace Mark McCormick in earning his seventh win of the season. Duensing, who went 7.2 shutout innings, allowing three hits and fanning four Bears, has now thrown 15 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to his start on Wednesday against Texas Tech.

 

Nebraska’s ascent through the loser’s bracket marked the second time the Huskers have accomplished that feat. In 2000, Nebraska advanced through the loser’s bracket and defeated Baylor for the tournament crown. The Huskers are now 4-1 in Big 12 Tournament title games and 20-2 all-time in Big 12 Tournament games in Oklahoma City.

 

Nebraska scored the game’s lone run in the top of the sixth off McCormick, getting a sacrifice fly from Andy Gerch. With one out and a runner on first, Curtis Ledbetter singled before Ryan Bohanan’s third walk of the day loaded the bases for Gerch, who lofted a 2-2 pitch to right center to plate Gordon.

 

In improving to 51-13 on the year, Nebraska tied the single-season school record for victories. By winning the tournament title, the Huskers earned the Big 12’s automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. Earlier in the day, the Huskers learned that Lincoln was selected as one of the 16 NCAA Regional sites. The Huskers will learn their tournament fate Monday morning at 10:30 a.m. when the NCAA Tournament field is announced live on ESPN.

 

The Huskers had a golden opportunity in the second, loading the bases with one out, but could not capitalize. Ledbetter, who was named the tournament MVP, opened the frame with a double before a Ryan Bohanan walk put runners on first and second with no outs. Andy Gerch laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third. Jake Opitz walked to load the bases, but Trey Adams’ smash to first was turned into an inning-ending double play.

 

McCormick (7-3) went six innings, allowing one run on three hits, but struggled with his control, walking a season-high six Huskers, in taking the loss for the Bears. Baylor (39-21) learned earlier in the day that Waco was also selected as one of the 16 NCAA Regional hosts, and the Bears will now await their tournament fate.

 

Curtis Ledbetter topped the Huskers with two hits while tying a Big 12 Tournament record with seven consecutive hits dating back to the end of Saturday’s first game. Bohanan walked three times for the Huskers, while Gerch delivered three sacrifices and provided the game-winning RBI.

 

Five Huskers were named to the all-tournament team, including Ledbetter, Alex Gordon, Gerch, Duensing and Joe Simokaitis.

Box score (NCAA) 2005 Nebraska Baseball #4 Nebraska vs #13 Baylor May 29, 2005 at Oklahoma City, Okla. (Bricktown Ballpark)

Nebraska 1 (51-13)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Bruce, Daniel cf......... 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 2 Simokaitis, Joe ss....... 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 3 0 Gordon, Alex 3b.......... 4 1 0 0 0 1 1 4 0 Ledbetter, Curtis 1b..... 4 0 2 0 0 0 10 0 0 Bohanan, Ryan dh......... 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 Gerch, Andy lf........... 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 Opitz, Jake 2b........... 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 4 2 Adams, Trey rf........... 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 Christy, Jeff c.......... 2 0 0 0 1 2 5 0 0 Duensing, Brian p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Jensen, Brett p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 25 1 3 1 6 5 27 12 7

Baylor 0 (39-21)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Griffin, Michael 2b...... 4 0 1 0 0 0 4 5 0 Russo, Kevin 3b.......... 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 Ford, Josh c............. 4 0 1 0 0 2 5 2 0 Dillon, Zach dh.......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sevigny, Kevin cf/lf..... 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Pankratz, Mike rf........ 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 Gerdes, Chase pr/cf..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mandel, Jeff 1b.......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 8 2 1 Fortenberry, Seth lf/rf.. 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 Witt, Paul ss............ 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 1 McCormick, Mark p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 LaMotta, Ryan p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 28 0 3 0 2 5 27 15 3

Score by Innings R H E ------------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 000 001 000 - 1 3 0 Baylor.............. 000 000 000 - 0 3 2 -------------------------------------------

E - Witt 2. DP - Huskers 2; Bears 2. LOB - Huskers 7; Bears 3. 2B - Ledbetter, C(16); Griffin; Dillon. HBP - Simokaitis. SH - Gerch, A. 2(6). SF - Gerch, A.(1). CS - Simokaitis(5); Bohanan, R.(1).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Duensing, Brian..... 7.2 3 0 0 2 4 24 26 90 Jensen, Brett....... 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 4 4 15

Baylor IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- McCormick, Mark..... 6.0 3 1 1 6 4 16 25 112 LaMotta, Ryan....... 3.0 0 0 0 0 1 9 10 41

Win - Duensing, B. (7-0). Loss - McCormick (7-3). Save - Jensen, B. (12). HBP - by McCormick (Simokaitis). Pitches/strikes: Duensing, B. 90/53; Jensen, B. 15/12; McCormick 112/64; LaMotta 41/26. Umpires - HP: Bill Davis 1B: Andy Eaves 2B: Jim Henrichs 3B: Randy Bruns Start: 1:00 Time: 2:25 Attendance: 5862 Game: NU64