April 22, 2005
Box Score
LINCOLN, Neb. - Poor fielding led to six unearned runs as eighth-ranked Baylor dropped an 8-4 decision at No. 11 Nebraska in the Big 12 Conference series opener Friday night at Haymarket Park. The loss snaps a seven-game Big 12 winning streak for Baylor (26-15, 12-4). The Bears also had won five straight against Nebraska (33-7, 9-4).
Nebraska surged to an early lead with three unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning. After Brandon Fusilier reached on a one-out error, Jesse Boyer reached on a wind-aided pop-up single that nicked off shortstop Paul Witt's glove in shallow left-center. Two batters later, Ryan Wehrle ripped a two-out, two-run double down the line in left. Daniel Bruce followed with a single to center, scoring Wehrle.
Baylor cut into the lead in the top of the fifth. Kevin Russo, who reached on a one-out single, scored on Paul Witt's two-out single through the right side.
The Huskers quickly answered, though, with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning. Nebraska put the game out of reach with three more runs in the sixth. Fusilier led off with a first-pitch home run to left-center, the Huskers' lone earned run of the night off Baylor starter Trey Taylor. Nebraska's final two runs in the frame came on a double, two Baylor errors and an RBI groundout.
Nebraska put another run on the board in the bottom of the eighth. Baylor cut the Huskers lead in half in the top of the ninth thanks to a Chase Gerdes two-out, three-run home run, the first round-tripper of his career.
Taylor (4-4) was victim of Baylor's poor defensive play. He was touched for seven runs, only one of which was earned, on eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts in 5.2 innings. It marked the fifth time since the beginning of the 2004 season that Taylor allowed fewer earned runs than Baylor scored and did not earn a victory.
Meanwhile, Nebraska starter Joba Chamberlain was more than Baylor's bats could solve. Chamberlain (6-0) allowed only one run on five hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts in 8.0 innings.
Baylor and Nebraska continue their three-game series Saturday at 2:05 p.m. CDT. The game will be televised (tape delayed) by College Sports TV on Time Warner Channel 15 in the Waco area. Baylor sends right-hander Mark McCormick (5-2) to the mound, opposite southpaw Zach Kroenke (4-1).
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 23-15-1, including a 15-11 advantage since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997. Nebraska leads the series 7-5 in games played at Lincoln. Baylor is 16-11 against Nebraska under the direction of head coach Steve Smith. ... The game was delayed five minutes during the top of the fifth inning due to sun glare off windows on the façade of Memorial Stadium. ... The loss snaps Baylor's school-record seven-game winning streak against nationally ranked opponents. ... Baylor is 6-5 this season on Friday, 4-2 in Big 12 play. ... The Bears are 7-4 this season in games started by Taylor, 29-16 in his 45 career starts. ... Taylor made his 45th career start Friday, tying Kip Wells (1996-98) for third all-time at Baylor. ... With 5.2 innings pitched, Taylor now has logged 262.0 innings of service at Baylor, moving into 10th place in school history. ... Michael Griffin played in his 230th career game Friday, tying Chris Durbin (2000-03) for third in Baylor history. ... With his fourth-inning single, Ford has reached base safely in 36 consecutive games and in 40 of 41 games this season. ... Griffin extended his hitting streak to six games, tying his longest run of the season. ... With four at bats on the night, Griffin moved into second place all-time at Baylor with 949 at bats.
