Huskers Fall to Kansas, 10-5

Lawrence, Kan. ? Craig Corriston tied his career high with three hits, but Kansas scored six unanswered runs, erasing a 5-4 deficit and taking the series opener against Nebraska with a 10-5 victory Friday night at Hoglund Ballpark.

Corriston went 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice to provide much of the offensive highlights for Nebraska (27-23, 12-13 Big 12). The Jayhawk duo of John Allman and Brock Simpson proved to be too much on this night, combining for six hits and driving in three runs apiece to help Kansas (28-28, 9-15) extended its win streak to six games.

Allman went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including a go-ahead RBI triple in the sixth, as the Jayhawks scored three runs in the frame to take the lead for good, while Simpson enjoyed a 3-for-4 evening with three RBIs ? including a two-run single in the frame - and scored twice.

Andres Esquibel turned in a solid relief effort to earn the victory, tossing 3.1 innings of one-hit ball to up his record to 7-3. He got the Jayhawks out of a two-on, two-out situation in the fifth and retired nine in a row to keep the Huskers’ offense in check after NU scored three times to erase an early 4-2 deficit.

Kansas jumped on top in the bottom of the first, getting a sacrifice fly from Erik Morrison to take a 1-0 lead. Consecutive one-out singles by Robby Price and Allman put runners on the corners before Morrison lofted a 1-0 offering from Tony Watson offering to right to score Price from third.

The Huskers came back in the top of the second with a pair of runs in the top of the second, getting two-out RBI doubles from Corriston and Bryce Nimmo to take a 2-1 lead. Jeff Tezak opened the inning with a single and scored three batters later, as Craig Corriston ripped an Andy Marks offering to the gap in left center. Nimmo then gave NU a 2-1 lead, plating Corriston with a double to right center. 

The lead would be short lived, as Kansas chased Watson with three runs in the bottom of the second, highlighted by RBI singles from Joe Servais and Allman, to take a 4-2 lead. After a single by Ryne Price and a Simpson double, Preston Land’s sacrifice fly to left knotted the score. Servais made it a 3-2 game with an RBI single to left before Allman’s run-scoring single off of reliever Charlie Shirek pushed the KU lead to two runs.

The Huskers fought back against Marks, scoring once in the third and once in the fourth to tie the score at four. Andrew Brown’s third-inning RBI triple scored Jake Mort to pull the Huskers within a run. One inning later, Corriston singled and stole second before Mitch Abeita’s two-out RBI single pulled the Huskers even.

Nebraska chased the Jayhawk starter one inning later, as Jake Opitz’s RBI single gave the Huskers its final lead at 5-4. Brown coaxed a one-out walk, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch before Opitz lined a sharp single into left. The Huskers eventually had runners on first and second, but could not capitalize, as Esquibel fanned Corriston to end the threat.

Kansas rallied against Shirek in the bottom of the frame, as Simpson’s RBI single scored Morrison, who singled and moved into scoring position after Ryne Price was hit by a pitch with one out. 

The Jayhawks regained the lead for good in the sixth, as Robby Price singled to open the frame before Allman’s triple to right put KU up 6-5. Matt Foust came in an nearly got the Huskers out of the inning without further damage, as he retired the next two hitters before Ryan Price coaxed a two-out walk, as Foust barely missed on a 3-2 pitch. Price then stole second and came home moments later on Simpson’s two-run single to center.

Shirek (2-6) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits over 3.1 innings of work

The hosts used sacrifice fly by Allman and Kyle Murphy in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, for the final margin.

The Huskers will continue the series Saturday night, as Johnny Dorn will look for his ninth win of the season. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be carried across the state on the Husker Sports Network and on Huskers.com.

Notes:  DJ Belfonte has now been hit by 17 pitches, a total that ties for sixth on NU’s single-season list....Nimmo’s RBI double in the second is his second extra-base hit of the year....Watson’s 1.2 inning start was his shortest start in 33 career starts...Jake Mort’s fourth-inning error was his first of the season and first in 35 games dating back to last season...Belfonte has now hit safely in his last 14 Big 12 contests