[Husker] Huskers pound OU 10-4

[Skylar Dodds]

Hello Husker Fans,

  The Huskers played with fire today as they beat up OU 10-4 in front
  of 8,310 at Hawks Field.

  Tony Watson picked up the win with an impressive outing. He pitched
  6.2, scattered 8 hits, let up 1 earned run, and walked 2. With the
  win, he moves to 8-1 on the year and has the best record among NU
  starting pitchers (pct). He also boasts the lowest ERA of NU
  starters at 3.06

  However, the biggest relief came from the offense.  NU pounded out
  15 hits, scored in each of the first 5 innings, and scored 5 runs in
  the third inning for the first big inning I can remember for a
  while.

  Every starter hit today except Mort, who's not been hitting the
  greatest.  It's been said that good hitting is contagious, well it
  seemed like tit today.

  In the first, the Huskers loaded up the bases with 1 out when
  Gorsett was hit by a pitch.  Andrew Brown struck out before Andy
  Gerch sent the first pitch over the shortstops head for a 2 run
  single (error on throw).

  In the second, Christy opened things up with a double and later
  scored on a Wehrle single to go ahead 3-0.

  In the top of the third OU got their only run off of Watson after a
  HBP and a BB then a base hit brings one home.

  In the bottom frame, NU exploded.  Gorsett, Gerch and Opitz doubled,
  HBP and singled respectively to load the bases with 1 out. Christy
  then drew a 4 pitch walk to score the first run.  Mort then grounded
  out to 2b and another run came across.  Nick Jaros followed that up
  with a single that scored 2 more.  After moving up on a wild pitch,
  Jaros scored on a Wehrle single to cap an 8-1 lead.

  NU added a couple more runs to give Tony PLENTY of cushion to finish
  off the Sooners.  Mike Hammerlink came in for a couple innings and
  surrendered 3 runs for your final score.

  This seems like just what we needed.  A game where everyone hit,
  confidence was at least temporarily restored and hopefully this is
  the spark we were all waiting for.  I'm not a fortune teller, but I
  can say this is the team I've been watching all year up until 2
  weeks ago.  Will it continue?  I don't know.  But I certainly feel
  better.

  OK, how bout the Big XII.  If we lose tomorrow we're the #4 seed no
  matter what.  That's VERY significant because that puts us in
  Texas's bracket for the Big XII tourney and face a tougher opponent
  in the first round, Baylor, instead of playing Kansas (#3 vs 6) or
  Missouri (#2 vs #7).  If we win, OSU MUST lose to Texas Tech to
  finish 2nd.  If we win and OSU wins, we tie with the tie breaker to
  OSU for the series win.  Here are the Big XII tourney teams so far
  and their potential rankings:

  #1 Texas 19-6-0 38-17-0
  #2,3, or 4 Nebraska 17-9-0 39-13-0
  #2 or 3 Oklahoma State 17-9-0 38-15-0
  #3 or 4 Oklahoma 16-10-0 38-17-0
  #5 Baylor 13-13-0 34-21-0
  #6 Kansas 12-14-0 38-22-0
  #7 Missouri 11-15-0 28-24-0
  #8 Texas Tech 9-15-1 31-22-1
  
  In a bit of irony, in what I said would be next to impossible, UT is
  on the verge of being swept by @MU.  Which means had we only sort of
  taken care of business we could have won the Big XII :)

  Anyhow, the Huskers finish the series tomorrow at 1:05 CST.  The
  game will be on Pinnacle, Sirius and Huskers.com video/radio.

  A good win tomorrow could drive us straight into the postseason!
  Johnny Dorn will take his 9-3 record and his 3.65 ERA to the hill
  for the series win.
  
-- 
Go Skers,
 Skylar                            mailto:Sklarbodds at cox.net