Nebraska Shuts Down 'Bama Baseball 5-1
3/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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LINCOLN, Neb. -- For the No. 25 University of Alabama baseball team, the first three innings of Saturday's 5-1 loss to No. 6 Nebraska was pretty much like the last three innings of Friday's series opener and the result was more missed opportunities for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama had several opportunities to score runs and take the lead in each of the first three innings against Nebraska right-hander Johnny Dorn, who was a third-team All-America selection last season.
The Crimson Tide stranded four base runners in the first three innings and were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position as the Tide left all four runners in scoring position. Alabama finished the game 0-for-13 with men in scoring position.
Junior center fielder Emeel Salem reached on a two-base error to open the first inning, but was stranded at second base. The Crimson Tide had runners at second and third with one out in the second inning and again failed to score. Salem ripped a leadoff double to right field to open the third inning, but was stranded at third base.
"The first three innings we had opportunities to score some runs, kind of like we did yesterday," Alabama head coach Jim Wells said. "You see our numbers, we don't hit well. In those situations, we did not need a hit, just someone to move the runners over. We did not get that again today."
Dorn (3-0) settled down after the first three innings and made things tough on the Crimson Tide hitters the rest of the way.
The Grand Island, Neb., native limited Alabama to one run and four hits in his second career complete game win. He walked one and added eight strikeouts in the 107-pitch gem.
"Dorn settled in after the first three innings and gave an excellent pitching performance," Wells said. "He had good command of the strike zone and got better as the game went along."
Dorn retired 12 consecutive batters in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings in the win. After giving up a pair of ninth inning singles to freshman right fielder Ryan Rhoden and freshman DH Alex Avila, he then struck out the next three batters to close out the Crimson Tide and the game.
Nebraska (10-2) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-out, solo home run by right fielder Luke Gorsett that hit the foul pole.
Alabama (13-5) scored its only run in the fifth inning to tie the game at 1-1. Junior shortstop Greg Paiml led off the inning with a single up the middle and moved into scoring position with a stolen base and throwing error by UNL catcher Jeff Christy.
Senior third baseman Matt Downs plated the only run of the game with a groundout to shortstop Ryan Wherle. The RBI groundout snapped the Crimson Tide's 12 inning scoreless streak that dated back to the fourth inning of Friday's series opener.
Nebraska broke the game open with a three-run sixth inning to take a 4-1 lead. Bryce Nimmo led off the inning with his first home of the season. Wehrle then drew a walk to chase starter Bernard Robert, who deserved a batter fate on Saturday afternoon.
Josh Copeland replaced Robert and was greeted by Gorsett's pop up single that landed in front of shortstop Greg Paiml. After Brandon Buckman's sacrifice bunt, Andrew Brown then laced a two-run single up the middle to put the Huskers in front 4-1.
Robert (2-1) allowed three runs and six hit in five-plus innings, with one walk and four strikeouts.
Nebraska plated an insurance run in the seventh to build a 5-1 lead. Nick Sullivan doubled to right field to chase Copeland, who gave up two runs and three hits in one inning out of the pen.
Patrick Kelly, making just his second career appearance on the mound, gave up back-to-back sacrifice bunts to Steve Edelfsen and Nimmo to close out the scoring.
Alabama and Nebraska close out this three-game series on Sunday at 12:05 p.m. (CT). The Crimson Tide will send freshman Tommy Hunter (3-0, 1.29 ERA) against Nebraska redshirt freshman right-hander Charlie Shriek (0-0, 1.80 ERA), who will be making his second career start.
GAME NOTES:
- Alabama has suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season. The Crimson Tide has now lost two non conference series this season and both came to Top 30 teams. In addition to the series loss at No. 6 Nebraska, Alabama also lost a home series to No. 26 Winthrop (Feb. 11-13).
- The Crimson Tide was 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position in Saturday's loss to Nebraska. Dating back to the fourth inning of the series opener, the Crimson Tide is 0-for-18 with men in scoring position in the series. Overall, Alabama is just 1-for-19 in the series with runners in scoring position.
- Dorn improved to 9-0 all-time at Hawks Field for the Cornhuskers. In his last three starts, the junior is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA.
- Nebraska won its 13th consecutive home game dating back to the 2005 season.
- Matt Downs (0-for-4) saw his career best five-game hitting streak come to an end on Saturday.
- Gorsett has homered in the fourth inning of both game in the series for Nebraska. He has homered in seven of his last nine games and has hit safely in all 12 games for the Huskers this season.
- Junior RHP Patrick Kelly (Dothan) made his second career appearance on the mound for Alabama in the loss to Nebraska. He worked two scoreless innings and allowed only one walk and struck out one batter.
- Nebraska pitchers have allowed just one earned run in 20 innings this weekend.
