University of Missouri
Nebraska
Tigers Rally To Down No. 10 Nebraska, 9-6
4/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 12, 2002
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri's streak of defeating foes ranked in the nation's Top 10 continued Friday night as the Tigers downed No. 10/14 Nebraska 9-6 in Big 12 Conference action at Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field. Earlier this season, MU defeated Baylor (ranked as high as eighth) twice in a three-game series at Taylor Stadium.
On Friday, the Tigers used a five-run eighth inning to pick up the win. Cody Ehlers hit a double to left-center field to plate two runs and give MU an 8-6 lead. Missouri scored another run in the inning after a Nebraska error to create the final margin.
With Nebraska leading 8-6, MU's Luke Cassis led off the inning with a single to right field. With one out, pinch hitter W.T. Hoover singled. Jayce Tingler doubled down the right-field line to score Cassis. Bo Davis was walked intentionally before Nebraska recorded its second out of the inning. With two outs, Lee Laskowski walked to force in Hoover and tie the game, 6-6. Ehlers, after Nebraska's fourth pitching change of the inning, hit a two-strike pitch to left-center to score Tingler and Davis to give the Tigers the lead. The hit by Ehlers was his third hit (in as many wins) that either tied the game or gave the Tigers a lead. The hit was also Ehlers' third of the contest.
Missouri improves to 15-7 overall and 4-9 in Big 12 play. Nebraska is 22-12, 9-7.
Missouri opened the scoring by plating a run in the second inning. Ehlers doubled down the right-fieldline to open the inning. After Mick Weiss walked, Cassis advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Brent Lacy drove in Ehlers with an infield out.
Nebraska answered with four runs in its half of the third inning. A pair of two-out walks came around to score on a double by Daniel Bruce. Bruce scored on a two-run home run by Jed Morris to give Nebraska the 4-1 lead.
Weiss hit his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot to right field, to give Missouri its second run of the contest and the make the score, 4-2.
The Tigers tied the score with a pair of runs in the fifth. Roughton doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a single by Laskowski. Laskowski made his way to third base and Cassis walked to put runners on third and first base, respectively. Cassis broke toward second base as the Tigers attempted a double steal. Nebraska pitcher Jason Burch threw the ball away to allow Laskowski to score and tie the game, 4-4.
In the Nebraska half of the sixth inning, the Cornhuskers used three hits to score two runs and take a 6-4 lead.
Tingler, Roughton and Laskowski each had two hits. Ehlers and Laskowski each had two runs batted in.
Aaron Paterson, pitching in his sixth-straight contest, picked up the win to improve to 2-0 this season. Paterson allowed one hit and struck out one batter in two innings of relief work. Travis Wendte recorded his fifth save by pitching a scoreless ninth.
Game two of the series will be Saturday at 2 p.m.
