University of Missouri
Nebraska
Laskowski Powers Tigers Past No. 10 Nebraska
4/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 14, 2002
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Sophomore outfielder Lee Laskowski (Clayton, Mo.) hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to give Missouri a 13-12 lead over Nebraska in Sunday's Big 12 Conference game at Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field. The home run was part of Missouri's six-run outburst that inning. The Tigers scored three runs in the eighth inning to create the final margin of 16-12.
By winning Sunday's game, Missouri wins the best-of-three Big 12 series against nationally ranked Nebraska (10/14) for the second-straight season and third time in four years. The Tigers are now 16-18 overall and 5-10 in the Big 12. Nebraska is 23-13 overall and 10-8 in league play.
However, winning Sunday's game was not easy as Nebraska opened a 6-0 lead after its first turn at the plate. Matt Hopper hit a three-run home run and Drew Anderson added a two-run shot to push NU to the lead.
Missouri answered with a run in its half of the inning. Jayce Tingler singled to lead off the inning but was out when Luke Cassis reached on a fielder's choice. Cassis went to third on a double by Jody Roughton. Cassis scored on an infield out by Laskowski.
The Tigers then plated four runs in the second inning. With one out, Chris Julo and Brent Lacy hit back-to-back singles. Bo Davis reached on a fielder's choice but Julo was out at third base. Tingler walked to load the bases. Cassis singled to score Lacy. Roughton walked to force in Davis before Laskowski singled to center and drive in Tingler and Cassis.
Nebraska replied with a four-run inning of its own in the third. Two walks and two hit batters forced in one run before Jeff Leise's double to right field cleared the bases and gave Nebraska a 10-5 lead.
Julo homered with one out in the third inning to bring the Tigers within one run, 10-6. Nebraska's Jeff Blevin homered to open the sixth inning to give Nebraska an 11-6 lead but Missouri would answer with Roughton's homer to left-center field to make it 11-7.
Nebraska scored a run in the seventh inning off MU's Travis Wendte - the first run Wendte had allowed in 10 appearances (12 innings). Joe Simokaitis singled, moved to second on a fly ball, stole second base and scored on a single by Daniel Bruce.
In the bottom of the seventh, Mick Weiss led off with a single to right field and moved to third base after a wild pitch and an infield out. Pinch hitter W.T. Hoover walked and Weiss scored on a passed ball. Tingler reached on an error before Cassis walked to load the bases. Nebraska changed pitchers but Roughton reached on an error to score Hoover. After another NU pitching change, Laskowski hit a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall to give the Tigers a 13-12 lead.
In the Tigers' half of the eighth, Weiss walked and moved to second after a sacrifice bunt. Lacy doubled to score Weiss. Hoover reached on a bunt single to move runners to the corners. Tingler bunted but Nebraska attempted to erase Lacy at the plate. The throw went awry, moving Hoover to third base and Tingler to second. Hoover scored on a sacrifice fly by Cassis for the 16-12 lead.
Travis Wendte (Moore, Okla.) improved to 3-1 with the win. He retired the last eight Nebraska batters he faced.
Cassis, Roughton, Laskowski and Julo each had two hits while Lacy had three hits. Laskowski also had seven RBI, one shy of the school record.
Missouri plays Southwest Missouri State Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field.
