Lincoln –
Max Scherzer scatted four hits in a complete-game performance, while Derek Chambers two-run single in the top of the first provided all of the offense No. 17 Missouri needed in a 2-1 victory over fifth-ranked Nebraska Friday evening at Hawks Field.
Scherzer, who improved to 7-2 on the season, fanned nine Huskers in tossing his first complete game of the season, a 133-pitch performance, capping the performance by striking out the Huskers in the ninth. The sophomore right-hander allowed one run, Jesse Boyer’s fifth-inning RBI single, as Nebraska’s four hits was its lowest total since March 5.
"Both teams had outstanding pitching tonight, but Missouri took advantage of its opportunities and we didn’t," Nebraska Coach Mike Anderson said. "You have to give Scherzer credit because he made the pitches to get us out when we had runners on base."
With the win, Missouri (32-14) moves into a second-place tie with Nebraska (37-10) with identical 12-7 league marks, as third-place Texas lost to Kansas, 5-2, in Lawrence.
While Scherzer picked up his first win in over a month, Joba Chamberlain and Brian Duensing held Missouri’s offense in check, allowing only two runs on five hits. Chamberlain (6-2) was the hard-luck loser in the pitcher’s duel, allowing both Tiger runs on four hits over 5.2 innings of work. The sophomore struck out seven and walked three, but could not overcome a rocky first inning when the Tigers scraped both runs across.
Duensing gave the Huskers a chance with 3.1 innings of one-hit relief, as Nebraska’s bullpen extended its streak to 24 innings with allowing a run.
On a night where both teams combined for just nine hits, the Tigers got the big blow in the first, Chambers’ two-out single, to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Trevor Helms opened the game with a double to left before a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. Chamberlain got Jacob Priday to ground into a force at home, but Chambers sent an 0-1 pitch from the Husker starter into right, giving MU a two-run cushion.
Missouri would continue to threaten, but could not extend the lead of the Husker starter, as they stranded runners in scoring position in four of the next five innings, as Chamberlain and Duensing kept Nebraska within striking distance.
Nebraska, which had one hit through the first 4.2 innings, began to rally against the Tiger starter in the fifth. With two outs, Trey Adams singled and stole second before Ryan Wehrle coaxed a walk to put two on. Jesse Boyer then sent a 2-1 pitch into center, scoring Adams to pull the hosts within 2-1.
The Huskers, who stranded six runners of their own, had their best opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth off the Tiger starter. A leadoff single by Daniel Bruce, who extended his hit streak to 15 games, started the inning before a Joe Simokaitis sacrifice moved Bruce into scoring position. Alex Gordon was hit by a pitch before Brandon Buckman’s two-out walk loaded the bases. NU could not take advantage, as Adams flew out to left to end the Husker threat.
The series continues Saturday afternoon at 2:05 p.m., as Zach Kroenke (5-2, 2.77 ERA) will be opposed by Nathan Culp (7-1, 3.14 ERA). The game will be carried on the Pinnacle Sports Network and shown state-wide on Nebraska Educational Television and College Sports Television.
-- Huskers --
Box score (NCAA)
2005 Nebraska Baseball
#17 Missouri at #5 Nebraska
May 06, 2005 at Lincoln, Neb. (Hawks Field)
Missouri 2 (32-14,12-7 Big 12)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB Avg.
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Helms, Trevor 2b......... 5 0 1 0 0 2 1 3 0 .286
Taylor, Zane dh.......... 4 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 3 .311
McKee, John 3b........... 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 .275
Mense, Hunter cf/lf...... 3 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 .357
Priday, Jacob rf......... 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 .307
Chambers, Derek 1b....... 4 0 1 2 0 2 7 0 3 .291
Williams, Tyler lf....... 4 0 2 0 0 1 2 0 2 .241
Frey, Evan cf........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .170
Field, J.C. c............ 4 0 0 0 0 1 9 0 0 .180
Arndt, Gary ss........... 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 3 1 .262
Scherzer, Max p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 -
Totals................... 33 2 5 2 3 10 27 9 9
Nebraska 1 (37-10,12-7 Big 12)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB Avg.
------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce, Daniel cf......... 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 .321
Simokaitis, Joe ss....... 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .290
Gordon, Alex 3b.......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 .389
Ledbetter, Curtis 1b..... 4 0 0 0 0 2 9 1 0 .319
Buckman, Brandon dh...... 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 .329
Nimmo, Bryce ph......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .242
Adams, Trey rf........... 4 1 1 0 0 1 3 0 3 .234
Wehrle, Ryan 2b.......... 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 0 .262
Fusilier, Brandon ph.... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .300
Boyer, Jesse lf.......... 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 .303
Christy, Jeff c.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 7 4 2 .232
Chamberlain, Joba p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 -
Duensing, Brian p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 -
Totals................... 29 1 4 1 2 9 27 12 6
Score by Innings R H E
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Missouri............ 200 000 000 - 2 5 0
Nebraska............ 000 010 000 - 1 4 3
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E - Gordon, A. 2(10); Wehrle, R.(5). DP - Tigers 1. LOB - Tigers 9; Huskers
6. 2B - Helms(6); Williams(3). HBP - Mense; Gordon, A.; Christy, J.. SH -
Arndt(4); Simokaitis(9). SB - Taylor(3); Adams, T.(3). CS - Williams(3).
Missouri IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP ERA
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Scherzer, Max....... 9.0 4 1 1 2 9 29 34 133 1.32
Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP ERA
--------------------------------------------------------
Chamberlain, Joba... 5.2 4 2 2 3 7 22 27 114 2.01
Duensing, Brian..... 3.1 1 0 0 0 3 11 11 51 3.15
Win - Scherzer (7-2). Loss - Chamberlain (6-2). Save - None.
WP - Scherzer 2(4). HBP - by Chamberlain (Mense); by Scherzer (Gordon, A.); by
Scherzer (Christy, J.). Pitches/strikes: Scherzer 133/89; Chamberlain 114/66;
Duensing, B. 51/36.
Umpires - HP: Randy Bruns 1B: Chris Coskey 3B: Doug Williams
Start: 6:37p.m. Time: 2:40 Attendance: 5765
Game: NU47
Courtesy: Scott Bruhn/NU Media Relations
