[Husker] Weekend Series vs Alabama

[Skylar Dodds]

Hello Husker,

  The Huskers battle back to take the series vs #22 Alabama 2 games to
  1.  This was a great series win for the Huskers vs a ranked SEC team
  on the road.  Bigtime win!

  Friday: Tide 8 - Huskers 0
  ==========================
  Not much went well for the Huskers, Tony Watson was un-Watson like.
  He had the worst game of his career, giving up 8 runs over 5.1
  innings (5 earned).

  While Watson was struggling, the Husker bats couldn't get going.
  They managed just 4 hits and struck out 7 times.  Alabama starter
  Quigley Miers went 7 innings, gave up just 3 hits and walked 4, but
  made the pitches when he needed to.

  Saturday: Huskers 4 - Tide 3
  ============================
  Jeff Tezak made a strong case for a regular 3rd baseman job.  His 5
  for 5 day almost single handedly beat the Tide.  The most important
  two hits came in the 7th when he tide the game at 3-3 with a solo
  home run.  Then, in the 9th, he gave NU the go ahead run with an RBI
  single for the win.

  Charlie Shirek started and pitched VERY well.  He really lived up to
  his nickname, "Groundball Charlie".  He cruised for 5.1 innings and
  allowed 3 runs (all after he left the game).  He had only allowed 2
  hits in the first 5 innings and after getting the first guy out,
  allowed 3 straight hits to end his day.

  After the 6th, the Huskers found themselves down 3-2, but Tezak
  provided the spark needed to put them over the top.  Zach Herr got
  the win letting up just 1 hit over 3.1 innings of work.  Steve
  Edlefsen got the final batter to lineout to Wehrle to end the game
  for his first save of the year.

  Sunday: Huskers 6 - Tide 5
  ==========================
  Johnny Dorn gave the Huskers exactly what it needed on Sunday to
  take the series.  He pitched 5.1 solid innings, gave up just 5 hits
  and 2 earned runs (1 after he left) and really baffled the Tide
  hitters all day long.

  On Offense, Craig Corriston had the strangest 3-RBI day I can
  remember. He got two RBIs off of an infield single to short with
  runners on 2nd and 3rd where Mike Anderson sent a chugging Andrew
  Brown from second to just beat out the throw to home.  Then in the
  sixth, he used a suicide squeeze to bring home Opitz for his 3rd RBI
  of the day.  I can't remember seeing anyone bring in 3 RBIs without
  hitting the ball out of the infield.

  The biggest moment of the game by far came in the bottom of the
  ninth. The Huskers entered the frame with a 6-3 lead and closer Erik
  Bird started to struggle, giving up 2 runs. With the tying run at
  second with just 1 out and two runs already across, Steve Edlefsen
  came in from right field and struck out the #4 and #5 hitters for
  his 2nd save. To come in with no warm up like that and put out two
  of their best hitters is amazing. What a huge performance by Steve.

  Weekend Notes:
  ==============
  The offense was sparked by two hitters, Jeff Tezak and Andrew Brown.
  Tezak went on a tear Saturday and still managed a 2 for 5 day
  Sunday finished the weekend 8 for 12 and probably will get some Big
  12 player of the week recognition.

  Andrew Brown hit two more homers this weekend for a team leading 5
  and really put some runs across in some very key situations.  Andrew
  is a really good hitter, but is prone to the strikeout a little.
  He's the type of hitter that's not going to ease up his swing just
  because there's two strikes.

  Wehrle and Belfonte had some spectacular plays on defense.  Wehrle
  grabbed a ball that ricocheted off of Tezak's glove and threw a guy
  out at first, not to mention the 8 balls he had hit his way in
  Saturday's game.

  Belfonte had a few nice grabs in the outfield, but the best was a
  diving catch in center in an inning where they later scored and
  saved us a huge run.

  All around the defense was very solid on Saturday and Sunday.  In my
  opinion (and that of quite a few more people) our biggest weakness
  is obviously catcher.  That's nothing against Lanning or Abieta, but
  we can't seem to throw guys out very well (I don't think we have yet
  this year) and we've had several pass balls.  I knew losing Christy
  last year would hurt, but geesh.

  Next Up:
  ========
  The Huskers play Wayne St at home on Tuesday @ 1:00pm for their home
  opener.  The game will be on the radio as well as video through
  Huskers N'Side (subscription required).

  Next weekend the Huskers face Texas Tech in Lubbock for the Big XII
  opener. Tech is OK this year so far. They lost their ace to injury
  for the year and the bottom part of their lineup seems to be
  struggling.

  Tech Series: Thu @ 6:30pm, Fri @ 6:30pm, Sat @ 2:00pm - All
  available on the radio, not sure yet about video.

  GO BIG RED!!

-- 
Thank you,
Skylar
mailto:Sklarbodds at cox.net
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