Huskers Run-Rule ?Cats

Manhattan, Kan. ? Andrew Brown and Luke Gorsett combined to drive in seven runs, while Johnny Dorn allowed one run over seven innings, as No. 3 Nebraska took the rubber game of the weekend series with a 12-2 win at Tointon Family Stadium on Sunday.

Gorsett went 2-for-4 with two homer and four RBIs, while Brown delivered the game’s big hit, a three-run double in the fourth, as Nebraska spotted Dorn a five-run lead in the third.

Dorn improved to 4-2 on the season, scattering seven hits over seven innings of work, as he won for the fourth time in the last five starts. After picking up the win in three series-deciding games as a freshman, Dorn struck out two in helping the Huskers to their seventh straight Big 12 series win dating back to last season.

With the win, the Huskers improved to 20-5 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12, while Kansas State, which entered Saturday’s game with a perfect 16-0 home mark, lost for second straight day to fall to 20-5, 2-4 in the league.

The Huskers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, as Gorsett sent the first pitch of the inning over the fence in center for his Big 12-leading 11th homer of the season. Gorsett’s blast was the first of the weekend for Nebraska, and the first of two in his first career multi-homer day.

Nebraska erupted with four runs in the top of the third, highlighted by Andrew Brown’s three-run double, to take a 5-0 lead. With one out, two walks sandwiched around a Wehrle single loaded the bases with one out. Luke Gorsett plated a run with a walk, the third of the inning by KSU starter Chase Bayuk. Brown then ripped a 1-1 pitch into left, skipping by KSU left fielder Barrett Rice, who fell down on the play, as the ball rolled to the wall, scoring all three runners.

After threatening in the third, Kansas State had another chance in the fourth, as an infield single by Barrett Rice and two walks by Dorn loaded the bases with two outs. The Husker right-hander got out of the jam by getting Drew Biery to foul out to end the rally.

Bayuk settled down after NU’s four-run third inning until he was chased in the sixth, as Nebraska scored three times to take an eight-run lead. With one out, Opitz ripped a triple into the corner in right to chase the Wildcat starter. Chase Mitchell came in and retired Jeff Christy for the second out, but Jake Mort made it 6-0 with a bouncer past third. After a walk to Nimmo, Jaros ripped a ball into the gap just past the diving Bryon Riley in center, clearing the bases with the second triple of the inning.

Bayuk (5-2) went 5.1 innings, allowing six runs on six hits while walking four and striking out seven.

Dorn took a shutout into the seventh, but Wiley opened the inning with a triple before scoring on Rob Vaughn’s RBI single.

The Huskers got the runs back and then some in the eighth, getting a two-run single by Brandon Buckman and Gorsett’s second round tripper of the day, a two-run blast to right. Buckman also had two hits and drove in a pair of RBIs for NU, which won for the second straight time in Manhattan.

Joe Roundy’s solo homer off Zach Herr made it 12-2, as the freshman left-hander pitched the final frame in a game shortened to eight innings because of the Big 12-run rule.

The Huskers travel to Omaha on Tuesday evening, as they take on the Creighton Bluejays at Rosenblatt Stadium. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. and the game will be shown state-wide on Nebraska Educational Television and carried on the Pinnacle Sports Network.