[Husker] Heart Break and Controversy

[Skylar Dodds]

Hello Husker Fans,

  A heart-breaking game ended with last inning controversy handed the
  Huskers their second straight loss 7-6. 6 home runs today between
  the teams, including back-to-back twice, scoring 8 out of the 13
  runs.

  Watson pitched ok, 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 SO.  He got himself in
  trouble from time to time and seemed to be vulnerable to the long
  ball, which was pretty uncharacteristic of him.  He had only given
  up 2 home runs in his first 70 innings and given up 3 today.  And up
  till now, Shirek hadn't given up a homer in 48 1/3 innings, and he
  surrendered the go ahead 3 run homer for the loss.

  Gerch and Opitz had a great day at the plate, with a combined 5 for
  10 and 2 home runs.  Gerch has really been hitting well

  NU struck early with a 2 run error by Mercer off a shot from
  Gorsett's bat.

  OSU struck back in the bottom of the inning when OSU's Ford homered
  off Watson.  They took the lead in the bottom of the third when
  Brown and Ford (again) homered back to back for the 3-2 advantage.

  NU wasted a great opportunity in the 5th. Nimmo tripled down the lf
  line and Jaros walked for runners on the corner with no outs. Wehrle
  flied out to left, just a little too shallow to score the runner
  from third, Buckman fouled out by third base and then Gorsett was
  robbed of a bases clearing double by a spectacular diving catch by
  OSU's left fielder.

  Five pitches into the 6th, NU had it's own back-to-back shots with
  Gerch taking a 1-1 pitch over the center field wall. 2 pitches
  later, Opitz sent the 0-1 over the same wall for a 4-3 Husker lead.
  In the 7th and 8th NU added an insurance run for what seemed like a
  game winning 6-3 lead.

  In the 8th, tragedy struck.  Back to back to back singles by OSU put
  them within 2 with runners on second and third with nobody out.
  OSU's Schram then drove a line shot on an 0-1 pitch that put OSU up
  for good at 8-7.

  The final inning was controversial and nail biting all in one.
  Wehrle got it going with a 1 out single.  After a Buckman strikeout,
  Gorsett battled a 1-2 count and drilled an inside changeup over the
  left field wall.  The homeplate umpire called it a fair-ball and a
  homerun.  According to the announcers (from OSU) it was foul, but
  the video feed didn't have instant replay so I can't say for sure.
  The OSU coach came storming out of the dugout (as did Anderson to
  defend the call) and the umpires got together and reversed the call.

  This of course sent Anderson through the roof, which got him ejected
  about 3 seconds after the play.  Since he was already ejected he
  certainly got his money worth, sticking around for a good 5 minutes
  yelling at the umpires (mainly the homeplate umpire who was being
  shielded by the other umpires).

  I think what really upset Anderson was the umpire that seemed to
  overturn the call was out in right field and probably in the worst
  position to make the call.

  Gorsett still singled to put runners on the corners, keeping it
  interesting. Gerch then drilled a grounder down the third baseline
  that just hooked foul.  He later struck out to end the ballgame and
  give the Huskers their second straight loss for only the second time
  this season.

  The Huskers try to avoid the sweep on Monday with a 6:35 start.  The
  game will be on Pinnacle, Sirius and video will be available on
  Huskers.com (subscription required).

-- 
Go Skers,
 Skylar                            mailto:Sklarbodds at cox.net