Huskers Hold Off Tide, 6-5

Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Craig Corriston drove in three runs while Johnny Dorn earned his third straight victory, as No. 17 Nebraska took the rubber match of the three-game series with No. 22 Alabama with a 6-5 victory on Sunday.

 

The Huskers, who improved to 8-5 on the year, withstood a late Alabama comeback, as the Crimson Tide (13-6) scored once in the eighth and twice in the ninth to pull within a run. With one out and the tying runner on second, Steve Edlefsen struck out Kent Matthes and Matt Bentley ? the No. 4-5 hitters in the UA lineup - to collect his second save in as many days.

 

The Huskers were out-hit, 10-8, but used solid situational hitting, including four sacrifices bunts that played key roles in Nebraska’s offensive arsenal. Corriston matched his career high with three RBI, including a two-run infield single in the fourth, while Jeff Tezak, Andrew Brown and Jake Opitz had two hits apiece. Tezak finished the weekend by going 8-for-11, including six straight hits over the first two games of the series.

 

Dorn was solid en route to earning his third straight win, allowing a pair of runs and scattering five hits, as the junior took a shutout into the sixth. With the win, Dorn picked up his 24th career win, tying Mike Zajeski (1988-92) for third place on NU's career wins chart.

 

Nebraska used the long ball to get on the scoreboard in the top of the second, getting a solo homer from Brown to take a 1-0 lead. Brown, who homered in consecutive games, sent a one-out offering from UA starter Bernard Robert down the line in left for his third homer of the season.

 

The Huskers got some clutch hitting from Corriston in the top of the fourth to extend their lead to 4-0. With two on and runners on second and third, Corriston sent a ball up the middle which Alabama shortstop Greg Paiml dove behind the bag and fired to first, but Corriston hustled the throw for a single to plate Opitz, who reached on a one-out double.  Brown continued running on the play and beat the throw home to score the Huskers' third run.

 

Jeff Tezak continued his weekend tear in the fifth, as his RBI double in the fifth pushed the husker advantage to 4-0. Jeff Lanning opened the frame with double down the third base line before Tezak brought him home two batters later with a ball into the gap in right center.

 

The Huskers manufactured a run in the top of the sixth without getting the ball out of the infield, as an infield single, a walk and a pair of sacrifices made it a 5-0 lead. Opitz opened the inning with a single while a throwing error advanced him into scoring position. After a Brown walk, Andy Gerch moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before Corriston greeted reliever Josh Copeland with a suicide squeeze to plate Opitz.

 

Robert took the loss for Alabama, allowing five runs on six hits, as he dropped to 2-2 on the season.

 

Alabama, which was held scoreless by Dorn until the bottom of the sixth, struck for a pair of runs to chase the Husker starter. A hit batter and an Alex Avila double gave the Crimson Tide their best scoring threat of the game to date. Matthews' sacrifice fly put Alabama on the board and Ray Rhoden grounded into a fielder's choice off reliever Thad Weber to pull UA with 5-2.

 

Nebraska continued its small ball attack in the seventh, pushing across another run to take a 6-2 lead. Edlefsen was hit by a pitch to open the inning before a DJ Belfonte sacrifice - the fourth sacrifice of the game by NU - moved him into scoring position. After a groundout moved Edlefsen to third, he scored moments later on a wild pitch from reliever Will Stroup.

 

Matt Bentley pulled the Tide closer in the bottom of the eighth, as his solo homer trimmed the Husker lead to 6-3 before Alabama continued to rally in the ninth. Alabama opened the ninth with a single by Greg Paiml before Emeel Salem's RBI double to right center made it a two-run game. Two batters later, Avilia’s third hit of the day ? an RBI double to left off Edlefsen - making a 6-5 game.

 

The Huskers return to Lincoln to open the home portion of their schedule on Tuesday, March 11, as they host Wayne State beginning at 1:05 p.m. Tickets are available by visiting Huskers.com or calling the NU Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED.  The game will also be carried for free on the Internet at Huskers.com.