Six-Run First Inning Lifts #2 Nebraska Over KU in Game One
March 25, 2006
LINCOLN, Neb. –
The 2nd-ranked University of Nebraska Cornhuskers scored six first inning runs including a grand slam and never looked back in beating the University of Kansas, 9-2, in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday in Lincoln, Neb. KU’s record drops to 16-9 and 1-3 in the Big 12 while NU improves to 16-2 and 1-0 in conference.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
KU’s first hit of the game was a home run by sophomore John Allman on Joba Chamberlain’s first pitch of the fifth inning. Allman’s homer to left field was his second of the season and sliced Nebraska’s lead to six runs.
A lead off single followed by a double and a walk loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first inning led to Luke Gorsett’s grand slam. The opposite field homer was his ninth of the season. Back-to-back singles scored NU’s sixth run of the inning. The Huskers capped the frame with an unearned run.
Junior Sean Land (4-4) took to loss, lasting just one inning. Land struck out one batter while walking two and allowing five earned runs.
Freshman Paul Smyth entered in the second inning with no outs and a runner on first. The Atascadero, Calif., native held the Huskers scoreless in the second and third innings before Nebraska scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
Smyth finished the day with a career-high five innings of work, striking out two while allowing three earned runs. Freshman Nick Czyz replaced Smyth to begin the eighth inning and finished the game with two strikeouts without allowing a run.
Freshman Justin Ellrich knocked a pinch hit RBI single in the ninth inning to give KU its second run of the game.
Bryce Nimmo and Brandon Buckman paced Nebraska’s 16-hit attack with four hits each. Allman had a season-high three hits on the day for Kansas.
Chamberlain improved to 3-1 on the year, striking out six while allowing five hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Kansas will throw senior Ricky Fairchild against Nebraska’s Tony Watson in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader.
Game Notes: Temperature at first pitch was 35-degrees … Kansas is now 0-8 on the year when out-hit by its opponents … KU’s 1-through-4 batters in the lineup were a combined 0-for-13 in the game.
