Huskers Sweep Doubleheader Against Mizzou, Claim Series Win

Lincoln, Neb. -  Cody Asche went 5-for-8 and broke the single-season school record with 27 doubles, while Tyler Niederklein and Jon Keller each provided strong starts on the mound to lead Nebraska (30-25, 9-17) to a doubleheader sweep of Missouri (24-30, 11-15) on the final day of the season Saturday afternoon at Hawks Field.

Asche finished the season on fire, going 8-for-13 against Missouri with four doubles and three RBIs. The junior third baseman was 4-for-4 with three doubles in the series clinching win Saturday afternoon, tying Jed Morris (2002) and Mike Duncan's (1985) record in the sixth before taking sole possession of Nebraska's top single-season doubles mark in his last at-bat as a Husker in the eighth. Asche's 46 career doubles rank in a seventh-place tie on the all-time NU chart with Todd Sears (1995-97) and Darin Erstad (1993-95). The O'Fallon, Mo., native will finish the season among the Big 12 leaders in home runs (12), doubles (27) and RBIs (56).

Nebraska was eliminated from postseason contention when it dropped a 10-5 decision to Missouri in the series opener that spanned from Thursday evening to Friday afternoon due to weather in the Lincoln area. Despite the elimination, the Huskers came back strong to win its second Big 12 series of the year and reach the 30-win mark for the first time since 2008.

Sophomore Tyler Niederklein (8-3) put Nebraska on track for its first win of the day by throwing a career-long 7.2 innings and giving up three runs on seven hits. He tossed a career-high 131 pitches, marking the most pitches thrown by a Husker since Erik Bird on April 29, 2009 against New Mexico. Dylan Vogt came on with two outs in the eighth and picked up his first career save by retiring the final four in order.

In the second game, freshman Jon Keller (3-6) earned his first Big 12 win by tying his career-long outing at 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on only four hits. The Husker offense pounded out 14 hits for Keller to build an 8-2 lead before Zach Hirsch and Casey Hauptman combined to throw the final 2.0 innings and gave up a run each while preserving the win.

"We got a couple of good starts today," head coach Mike Anderson said. "Tyler Niederklein and Jon Keller did a good job. When you get those types of quality starts, good things can happen. I'm proud of the kids for showing up today. I asked them that although they were knocked out of things to respect the game, respect each other, come out and play hard. That's a tough task sometimes but they played hard and did a good job."

Nebraska squeaked out a 4-3 win in the first game as Kash Kalowski and Kale Kiser each produced 2-hit games in the 4 and 5 holes. Kalkowski had a pair of RBIs as the Huskers overcame an early 3-1 deficit en route to the victory. Bryan Peters finished 1-for-2 and reached base three times as he was plunked by two pitches. He is now tied for fifth (also Jake Mort) on the NU career hit-by-pitch list with 36 through his first two seasons.

Asche's lone hit of the first game was vital for the Huskers, as his sixth inning single up the middle broke a 3-3 tie and scored Khiry Cooper for the eventual game-winning run. The O'Fallon, Mo., native broke out one of his best games in the second contest of the day by going 4-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, marking his 22nd multiple hit game of the season. After Missouri took a 2-0 lead, Asche led Nebraska to a six-run fourth inning by leading off with a double to left center before eventually singling later in the frame. That double tied the single-season school record, while he stepped to the plate in the eighth and drilled the first pitch into right field to put his name alone in the No. 1 spot and earn a standing ovation from the Hawks Field crowd.

Nebraska tacked on a run each in the fifth and sixth innings to go up 8-2, while Missouri's late comeback attempt with three runs over the final two innings was not enough.

Although Nebraska picked up the series win Saturday afternoon, it completes the season with a 30-25 record, including a 9-17 mark in Big 12 play. The Huskers will not advance to the 2011 Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City.

"I'm proud of the kids for what they've done in the classroom, I'm proud of the kids for what they've done off the field and I'm proud of this program," Anderson said. "We just didn't measure up to meet our goals and expectations. It's disappointing, but for the kids we have coming back, we'll try to build on that disappointment and go from there."