The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Nebraska
Alaniz earns 10th win of season as Baseball defeats Nebraska, 8-4
04.21.2007 | Baseball
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Adrian Alaniz picked up his 10th victory of the season to lead No. 5 Texas to an 8-4 win over Nebraska in Big 12 Conference action Saturday afternoon at Haymarket Field.
Alaniz, who struggled early giving up four runs on seven hits in the first three innings, did not allow a hit over his last 4.2 innings while fanning eight to move his season record to 10-2. For the game, Alaniz allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out a career-high 10 batters over 7.2 innings.
Kyle Russell hit his 22nd home run of the season in the top of the first inning to draw first blood. With one out, Chance Wheeleess singled through the right side of the infield, setting up Russell's two-run homer over the leftfield fence.
Nebraska (23-16, 8-9) shaved a run off the lead with a run in the bottom half of the first. D.J. Belfonte, Ryan Wehrle and Andrew Brown lead off the inning with three consecutive singles to load the bases and Belfonte scored on a double play grounder by Jake Opitz, trimming the lead to 2-1.
The Cornhuskers claimed the lead with three runs in the bottom of the third. Belfonte and Wehrle led off the frame with singles, setting up a two run double to the gap in left centerfield by Brown. Brown moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Opitz and scored on a wild pitch, staking Nebraska to a 4-2 lead.
Texas (32-12, 13-4) recaptured the lead with a three-run fourth inning. With one out, Russell Moldenhauer and Nick Peoples drew walks and Preston Clark loaded the bases with a wind-aided single. Travis Tucker, plated Moldenhauer with a groundout and Michael Demperio pushed Peoples and Clark across with a single up the middle.
Texas tacked on two insurance runs in the fifth inning. With one out, Russell singled to centerfield, moved to second on a failed pick off attempt and Moldenhauer doubled to drive in Russell and later scored on a groundout by Travis Tucker.
The Longhorns scored its final run in the ninth inning as Nick Peoples hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Wheeless.
Russell paced the Texas defense, going 3-for-4 with one home run, two runs scored and two RBI. Peoples went 2-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI.
Brown went 2-for-4 with one double, one run scored and two RBI to lead Nebraska.
Randy Boone earned his 10th save of the season, retiring all four batters he faced, including two on strikeouots.
Johnny Dorn (6-2) was saddled with the loss for Nebraska. He allowed seven runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two over 4.2 innings.
Texas and Nebraska wrap up three-game series Sunday with a 12 p.m. contest.
