Huskers Rally for Victory over Missouri

Columbia, Mo. ? Luke Gorsett drove in three runs, including the go-ahead run in the sixth, as sixth-ranked Nebraska downed Missouri, 6-3, in front of a crowd of 1,811 at Taylor Stadium Friday evening

Gorsett went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, his 13th of the year, in the fourth before his RBI single in the sixth gave NU a 4-3 lead, as NU overcame a three-run deficit in taking the series opener at Missouri for the first time since the 2000 season.

Nebraska improved to 22-5 overall and 5-2 in the Big 12 with its fourth straight win, while Missouri dipped to 16-12 overall and 6-4 in the Big 12 with their third loss in the last four contests.

Chamberlain overcame a rocky start to pitch six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits to improve to 4-2 on the season. Chamberlain allowed two runs in the second and another in the third, held the Tigers off the scoreboard over his final three innings. Three relievers then combined to hold MU scoreless over the last three frames, while Brett Jensen retired all six hitters he faced for his sixth save.

The Tigers struck early, scoring twice off of Chamberlain in the second on an RBI double by Hunter Mense and a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Evan Frey. After a leadoff single by Derek Chambers, Chamberlain walked Kyle Mach to put two on with no outs. Mense then doubled into the corner for the first run before Frey made hit 2-0 three batters later, squeezing Mense home from third.

Missouri extended the lead to 3-0 one inning later on Mense’s triple to right center, scoring Jacob Priday, who opened the third with a single, but Chamberlain would settle down and hold MU off the board, allowing the Huskers to begin a comeback. Mense went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs to pace the Tigers in the loss.

MU starter Nathan Culp retired the first 10 Huskers he faced before running into trouble in the fourth. With one out, Nick Jaros singled to left and came home two batters later, as Gorsett launched the Tiger left-hander’s first pitch over the bullpen in left to pull NU within 4-3.

The Huskers used the long ball again in the fifth to knot the score at four, as Jeff Christy opened the inning with his fourth homer of the season, a shot over the fence in left center.

In the sixth, the Huskers continued the rally, scoring twice to take a 5-3 lead. Jaros, who had two hits and scored twice, opened the frame with a double to right before a walk to Ryan Wehrle put two on with no outs. After fouling off several pitches, Gorsett lined Culp’s 2-2 pitch into center, scoring Jaros to give NU a 4-3 lead. Buckman then gave the visitors a two-run advantage, scoring Wehrle on a fielder’s choice.

Culp, who entered Friday’s game with a 1.98 ERA in eight starts, went 6.1 innings, allowing a season-high five runs on nine hits to drop to 6-3 on the season.

Missouri started to rally in the bottom of the seventh, as NU reliever Jared Cranston issued consecutive one-out walks to Priday and Chambers. Erik Bird stuck out Kyle Mach for the second out before Zach Herr got NU out of the jam by getting Mense to ground out to second. That would be MU’s final threat as Jensen pitched two perfect innings for the save.

The Huskers tacked on an insurance run in the eighth on back-to-back doubles by Gorsett and Buckman to make it 6-3.
 
The series continues Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., as Tony Watson (5-0, 2.01 ERA) takes on MU right-hander Max Scherzer (3-1, 2.70 ERA). The game will be carried on the Pinnacle Sports Network, and also on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Ch. 107).