Huskers Pound Bears, 15-2

Lincoln – Adam Bailey’s grand slam highlighted a 10-run third inning, as Nebraska powered its way past Northern Colorado, 15-2, Wednesday afternoon at Hawks Field.

Bailey went 2-for-4 and drove in four RBIs, as the senior right fielder now has nine straight multi-RBI efforts for Nebraska (11-9). He had both of his hits in the inning, as the Huskers sent 16 hitters to the plate in turning a 1-0 game into a laugher. Bailey now has seven homers and 29 RBIs on the season, easily leading the Huskers in both categories, and has driven in at least two runs in each of Nebraska’s last nine contests.

Josh Scheffert homered and drove in three runs, while Tyler Farst had two hits and two RBIs to help the Huskers run their home win streak to 10 games dating back to last season. Kale Kiser scored four times as part of a 2-for-3 afternoon, while Bryan Peters continued to swing the bat well with three hits and scored twice, as the Huskers pounded out 13 hits and took advantage of a Northern Colorado team that walked six and hit five Huskers in the first three innings.

“Yeah, we kind of had a little bit of that yesterday, had some walks and stuff and it didn’t hurt us. It hurt them today,” Nebraska Coach Mike Anderson said. ”We didn’t have that many hits and had quite a few runs so that was good to see.”

Leading 1-0, the Huskers put the game away in the third, scoring 10 runs on just four hits – two each from Farst and Bailey. Three runs had already crossed when DJ Belfonte was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded from Northern Colorado starter Nate Steinmetz to make it 5-0. Scott Cure came into face Kiser, who hit a grounder that UNC third baseman Shay Maltese tried to tag Bubak for the third out, but missed the runner, pushing across another run to make it 6-0. That would prove to be costly moments later, as Bailey belted a grand slam into the berm in right center to make it a 10-0 game. Three batters later, Farst’s second RBI of the inning – a double to left center - capped NU’s first double-digit inning since putting 13 runs on Creighton on April 23, 2008.

Mike Nesseth was outstanding in a predetermined outing, as he tossed three no-hit innings for the win. The junior right-hander didn’t allow a ball out of the infield in his three innings of work and struck out four in facing one batter over the minimum. Nesseth has not allowed a hit in his last two appearances, covering 6.1 innings of work.

“I was really pleased with Mike Nesseth. That’s a good start and quality start,” Anderson said. “He was in control and composed and that’s what we need to see out of him.”

Five Husker pitchers combined on a five hitter and 10 strikeouts, as Dylan Vogt and Matt Freeman both saw their first action of the season.

Steinmetz (0-1) took the loss, allowing eight runs on three hits in just 2.2 innings, as he walked five and hit four Huskers. Tony Crudo went 3-for-4 and drove in both runs for Northern Colorado (4-12).

The Huskers will look to continue their winning ways at home, as they begin a three-game series with No. 12 Oklahoma Friday night. First pitch is a 6:35 p.m. start in the first night game at Hawks Field this season.

Notes

 

Adam Bailey's third-inning grand slam was the first by a Husker in exactly a year, as Tyler Farst hit one against Northern Colorado on March 24, 2009...Bailey now has nine straight multi-RBI contests...Tyler Farst and Adam Bailey’s two hits in the third inning was the first time any Husker had multiple hits in a frame since April 23, 2008…Nebraska’s 10-run third inning marked the fourth time since 2003 that the Huskers scored 10 runs in any inning and the first since scoring 13 in the fifth inning at Creighton on April 23, 2008...Nebraska has won 10 in a row at home dating back to the end of the 2009 season.