Huskers Complete Sweep of North Dakota

Lincoln – DJ Belfonte homered and drove in three runs to lead Nebraska to a 10-4 victory over North Dakota Wednesday afternoon at Hawks Field.

Belfonte went 3-for-4 on the day with a two-run homer, his fourth of the year, to spark a 14-hit attack by the Huskers (14-11). Bryan Peters and Cory Burleson also added a pair of hits and two RBIs apiece, as the bottom of the Husker lineup provided a spark to help Nebraska to its third straight win.

One day after falling behind 10-0, Nebraska jumped on North Dakota starter Zac Salfer for five runs in the first inning, using clutch two-out hitting and taking advantage of a key Fighting Sioux miscue. With two out and a runner on first, shortstop Kris Kwak misplayed a grounder to keep the inning alive before singles by Cody Asche and Chad Christensen gave NU a two-run lead. After a walk to Cade Thompson, Peters lined a two-run single to right center before Burleson made it 5-0 with a run-scoring single to center.

Nebraska Head Coach Mike Anderson was happy with the win, but was disappointed with the Huskers’ energy level on Wednesday.

“It’s a good win, but it’s the first time I’ve seen this team without great energy.” Anderson said. “I don’t think they were tired, but they looked a little behind. We figured out a way to get a win and that’s a good characteristic to have. We’re trying to build on it. It is about learning to play hard and bringing it every day, no matter who the opponent it.”

That would be all the Huskers needed on the day, as right-hander Khris Tate and four relievers saw action on the date. Tate went a predetermined three innings for his first win, fanning three and allowing two hits to improve to 1-0 on the season

“He located his fastball, which was good and that’s exactly what we were asking him to do,” Anderson said. “I thought he was good with his breaking pitch today.”

North Dakota chipped away at the Husker lead, scoring single runs in the fourth and fifth before an RBI double by Burleson and a run-scoring single by Belfonte made it a 7-2 lead.

Trailing 8-2 in the seventh, North Dakota had its best opportunity to get back into the game, pushing across one run and had the bases loaded with two outs, but Casey Hauptman struck out Andrew Sadler to end the threat, as he went the final 2.1 innings for his first save of the season.

Nebraska put the game of reach in the eighth, as Burleson walked and came home on Belfonte’s two-run shot into the right field bullpen off Salfer, who allowed 10 runs on 13 hits over 7.2 innings to drop to 0-2.

The Huskers begin a three-game series at Oklahoma State beginning Friday night at 6:30 p.m.