Red Defeats White in Series Opener

Lincoln, Neb. -  Brandon Buckman led off a three-run seventh inning with a solo homer to propel the Red squad to a 7-5 victory in the first game of the annual Red/White Series at Hawks Field Tuesday afternoon.

 

Buckman went 2-for-4 on the day, and came around in the eighth inning for the go-ahead run when Luke Gorsett sent a two-run double to the right field gap to bring home Buckman and John Lee to give the Red a 6-4 lead.

 

“It was an advantage count, and I got an inside fastball and got a bat on it,” said Buckman. “After they (White) scored, we knew we had to answer back immediately because it was getting late in the game. Competition heats up a little when you get to the Red/White Series, and I think we had a really great game today.”

 

Brett Jensen surrendered four hits in 2.0 innings of work, but earned the save with help from a solid defensive effort from Steve Edlefson who ended the game on a 5-3 double play.

 

Mike Nihsen earned the victory for the Red team, but it was Drew Schwab who made headlines, throwing 5 2/3 innings while giving up just two hits and two earned runs to keep the White bats scoreless for over half the game.

 

“Drew Schwab played the key role in the game,” said Red Head Coach Andy Sawyers. “Our team came out a little sluggish, but Schwabie kept hanging zeros on the board and let our offense wake up a little bit. He was outstanding for 5 2/3 innings and you can’t say enough about him.”

 

The Whites struck first with a four-run sixth inning that was capped by a Nick Sullivan three-run homer after Ryan Wehrle came around to score after a lead off walk on a Jeff Lanning single. The Whites added their final run in the eighth with a home run into the right field bullpen by Ryan Bohanan, but could not push the tying run across the plate when Lanning was tagged out at home by Brooks Wells after Travis Tangeman hit a grounder to third base.

The Red/White Series continues tomorrow when junior Jared Cranston takes the hill for the Red squad to face sophomore Matt Foust. The contest begins at 2:30 p.m. at Hawks Field.