Huskers Claw Past ?Cats

Lincoln ? Jake Opitz went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, while Tony Watson allowed two earned runs over 7.2 innings, lifting the Nebraska baseball team to a 4-3 victory over Kansas State Friday night at Hawks Field.

Opitz delivered the game’s big hit, a two-out, two-run double in the fifth off of KSU starter Brad Hutt that proved to be the go-ahead runs, as the Huskers improved to 24-17 overall and 9-10 in Big 12 play.

The Huskers trailed 2-1 before rallying in the bottom of the fifth, using a single and a pair of walks to load the bases with two outs before Opitz, who entered the night hitting .190 in Big 12 action, ripped an 0-2 pitch into left center, scoring Mitch Abeita and DJ Belfonte to give the Huskers a one-run lead.

Nebraska Head Coach Mike Anderson said that Opitz’s two-strike approach was crucial, as he reached in three of his four plate appearances, including a 14-pitch walk in the first against the Wildcat starter.

"I thought it was a good win, and I liked the toughness we had," Anderson said. "I'm pleased with our two-strike approach. Obviously, Jake Opitz drove in two runs with a two-strike approach. We got some base knocks and kept putting pressure on them"

The runs were enough for Watson, who collected his fourth win in his last five starts. The left-hander allowed three runs on eight hits and fanned seven, as he and reliever Matt Foust held the Wildcats (26-16, 6-10 Big 12) scoreless over the final four frames. Watson, who has pitched into the eighth in five of his last six starts, worked around trouble for most of the night, as he retired K-State in order only twice all evening.

"I didn't think his fastball had as much on it, but he still got it done against a very scrappy group." Anderson said.

Kansas State threatened in each of the final two innings, but could not get the tying run home, as Foust tossed a scoreless 1.1 innings for his fourth save in as many chances this month.

In the eighth, Eli Rumler singled and stole second against Watson, but Foust came in and got the Wildcats to run themselves out of the inning, as Abeita picked up a wild pitch and threw a strike to third baseman Craig Corriston to get Rumler at third. KSU got the tying run on in the ninth, as McCoy was hit by a pitch with one out, but Foust retired the next two hitters to end the threat.

The Huskers struck quickly in the bottom of the first, as Andrew Brown’s seventh homer of the season, a solo blast to right center, gave the Huskers a 1-0 lead.

Kansas State came right back in the top of the second, manufacturing a run to knot the score at 1-1. Bryon Wiley walked to open the frame, stole second and moved to third on a grounder before Brett Scott’s squeeze plated the Wildcat run.

Nebraska put together a rally of its own in the bottom of the frame, as Bryce Nimmo’s sacrifice fly gave NU a 2-1 lead. Andy Gerch singled to open the inning and stole second before a ground out moved him to third. Nimmo then lofted a sacrifice fly to center that easily scored Gerch from third.

Hutt took the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings, as he dipped to 7-3 on the year.

The Wildcats fought back, plating single runs in both the fourth and fifth to take a one-run lead on Watson, who had allowed just two earned runs in three home starts entering Friday. Scott collected his second RBI of the night in the fourth, as his bunt single scored Rumler, who singled, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error. One inning later, Rob Vaughn doubled to open the inning before scoring on Drew Biery’s two-out single that gave KSU a short-lived 3-2 advantage.

The two teams will continue the three-game series Saturday afternoon, as Johnny Dorn looks for his seventh win of the season. First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m. and the game will be carried across the state on the Husker Sports Network and on Huskers.com. In addition, the game will be shown state-wide on Nebraska Educational Television (Ch. 12) and NET-HD (Ch. 112).

Fans are encouraged to arrive early or use the pedestrian walkway to the ballpark on Saturday, as the overflow lots at Hawks Field at not available because of the wet weather the last few days.