Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Nebraska
Nebraska Dominates Northwestern, 19-3
2/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 20, 2004
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Northwestern opened the Ultimate Dugout Baseball Fiesta in Albuquerque, N.M. with a 19-3 loss to No. 24 Nebraska at Isotopes Field Friday afternoon. The Huskers used a five-run first inning and an eight-run third inning to put the game out of reach. The Huskers were playing their first game of the season.
Nebraska got things started, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning, taking advantage of one Husker walk and two hit batsmen. The Huskers managed two hits in the inning, one of those being a first-pitch three-run home run over the left field wall by right fielder Daniel Bruce.
Zach Kroenke, the Huskers left-handed starter, shut down the Wildcat offense. He cruised through the first three innings, striking out seven of Northwestern's first nine outs. Kroenke struck out a career-high 11.
Nebraska put the game away in the bottom of the third, scoring eight runs on five hits, taking a 13-0 lead. Four of the five Husker hits went for extra bases, including third baseman Alex Gordan's three-run home run.
The Wildcats got on the board in the top of the fourth inning, scoring two runs on one hit, taking advantage of a Husker error. Jason Krynski reached on a one-out error and advanced to third on a Dan Pohlman double to the right center field gap. Krynski crossed the plate on a wild pitch and Pohlman advanced the final 90-feet on Doug Beatty's groundout.
The Huskers answered with two runs of their own as Wildcat reliever Andrew Smith hit the first batter of the inning. The leadoff hitter came around to score on a Husker single and a two-base Wildcat error. Joe Simokaitis singled to score the second and final run of the inning.
Neither team found the scoring column for the next three innings, until Nebraska plated four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. After the leadoff man reached on an error, Braden Keith hit an RBI-triple to the right center field gap. He scored two batters later on a groundout. The final two runs of the inning came on Gordan's second home run of the game. It was a two-run round-tripper.
In the ninth, Mike Phelps hit a pinch-hit opposite field home run, making the final score 19-3 in favor of Nebraska.
The 'Cats are next in action when they take on Kent State tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. (CST).
