The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Nebraska
No. 5 Baseball shutout 6-0 by No. 3 Nebraska
04.23.2006 | Baseball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Huskers' starting pitcher Johnny Dorn scattered five hits over seven innings as three Nebraska pitchers combined on a 6-0 shutout of No. 5 Texas in front of 6,131 fans at Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, April 23.
With the loss to NU (32-6, 12-3 Big 12), the Longhorns' (28-15, 13-4 Big 12) dropped their first league series of the season (2-1) and fell into second place in the Big 12 standings behind the Huskers. The shutout also marked the second thrown against UT this season (Feb. 4 at San Diego) and the first at home since May 15, 2004 (a 1-0 loss to N.C. State).
Back-to-back singles to open the top of the first followed by a one-out, RBI-groundout off the bat of Brandon Buckman staked NU to an early 1-0 lead. One inning later, Nebraska struck again as a leadoff single from Andrew Brown combined with an error, a fielder's choice bunt and a sac fly to make it 2-0 in favor of the Huskers. In the third, NU loaded the bases with two away courtesy of a single, an error on a fielder's choice and a walk, but Drew Stubbs (Atlanta, Texas) ran down a drive into the right-center field gap off the bat of Brown to end the threat. Dorn, meanwhile, limited the Horns to only one hit over the first three frames to keep the two-run lead in tact.
While Texas starter Adrian Alaniz (Sinton, Texas) settled down by retiring the Huskers in order during both the fourth and fifth innings, Dorn continued to handcuff the UT offense by retiring six in a row during that span and posting three strikeouts. In the top of the sixth, NU again threatened by receiving consecutive singles from Luke Gorsett and Nick Jaros to begin the frame. After a sac bunt moved both runners up 90 feet, an intentional walk loaded the bases before a double over third base bag from Jake Mort cleared the bases and made it a 5-0 ballgame. Another single from Bryce Nimmo then plated the fourth run of the inning and made it 6-0 in favor of the Huskers.
The Longhorns would put together a two-out opportunity in the bottom of the sixth when Stubbs and Nick Peoples (Round Rock, Texas) doubled and walked, respectively, before pulling a double steal to place two runners in scoring position. Despite the threat, Dorn held his ground by inducing an inning-ending groundout to preserve the shutout bid. Texas would again attempt to rally in the seventh with a one-out single from Bradley Suttle (Boerne, Texas), but Dorn received two fine infield defensive plays, one before Suttle's hit and another right after it, to stymie the chance.
Although Nebraska would load the bases for the third time in the game with two outs in the top of the eighth, UT reliever Joseph Krebs (Bridgeport, Texas) prevented the Huskers from scoring with a groundout to keep UT within striking distance. The Longhorns then put runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the eighth, but relievers Erik Bird and Zach Herr combined for a strikeout followed by a pickoff and a groundout to keep Texas off the board. Down to their last at bat, the Horns had Carson Kainer (Tomball, Texas) reach first on an error to begin the inning, but Herr got a flyout and a double play to complete the shutout victory. While Dorn improved to 7-2 on the year with a seven-inning effort that included four strikeouts and only five hits, Alaniz shouldered the loss for Texas after tossing 5.1 innings.
Paving the way for the Longhorns' offense on the day was Preston Clark (Rockwall, Texas), who tied a career-best with three hits in three at bats, and Stubbs, who extended his current hit streak to nine games with a double in the sixth. Nebraska, meanwhile, had its 12-hit attack led by Mort, who tallied four RBI during a 1-for-2 day that also saw him score one run, and four players with multi-hit efforts, including Gorsett, who went 3-for-5 with one run scored, and Nimmo, who scored once and drove in one run during a two-hit outing.
Up next, the Horns welcome the Broncs of UT-Pan American to Disch-Falk Field for a 6:15 p.m. Central contest on Tuesday, April 25. To purchase tickets, call by phone (1-800-982-BEVO).
