BAYLOR BASEBALL TOPS No. 8 NEBRASKA 8-3

WACO, TEXAS (April 27, 2008) Paul Miles’ two-run single keyed a four-run first inning, while Willie Kempf and Mace Thurman combined for 11 strikeouts as Baylor defeated No. 8 Nebraska 8-3 in Sunday’s Big 12 Conference finale at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears (25-20, 9-12) snapped losing streaks of five games at home, five games in Big 12 play and nine games against Top 10 opponents. The Huskers (32-8-1, 15-5-1) fell to 3-13 all-time at Baylor Ballpark.

Baylor sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning. After Shaver Hansen struck out to start the inning, Beamer Weems and Dustin Dickerson wrapped back-to-back singles. Adam Hornung walked, and Aaron Miller followed with a flare RBI single to left-center. Raynor Campbell followed with a sacrifice fly, and Ben Booker walked to reload the bases. Miles then punched the first pitch he saw through the right side, scoring Hornung and Miller.

That proved to be all the offense Baylor would need as Kempf and Thurman held Nebraska to three runs on six hits and four walks. The Huskers got a solo home run form Craig Corriston in the second, a two-out Jake Opitz RBI single in the third, and a Mitch Abeita one-out RBI single in the eighth.

Kempf (6-2) moved to 6-1 in his career at Baylor Ballpark after suffering his first career home loss in relief in the series opener. He allowed two runs on two hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 5.0 innings. Thurman walked two and struck out seven, a career high, over 4.0 innings for his second save of the season; Abeita’s eighth-inning RBI single was the only hit Thurman allowed.

Nebraska’s solo spots in the second and third innings pulled the Huskers to within two runs at 4-2. However, the Bears answered with four one-run innings of their own. Hornung doubled with two outs in the fourth, and Miller followed with an RBI single. Weems followed Hansen’s two-out single in the fifth with an RBI triple down the line in right. Hansen singled with one out in the seventh, stole second and scored on Dickerson’s two-out RBI single.

Miller capped the scoring with a leadoff homer down the right-field line in the eighth. It was his 10th round-tripper of the season, the most by a Baylor player since 2004 when Josh Ford had 14 and Michael Griffin had 10. Miller is the first Baylor sophomore with at least 10 home runs since 2002 when Ford had 12 and Griffin had 11.

Nebraska starter Aaron Pribanic left the game after opening the second inning with two straight balls. He allowed four runs on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Erik Anderson, who faced only two batters and recorded the final out of the fourth inning, was the only of Nebraska’s six pitchers used on the day to not allow a run.

All nine Baylor starters reached base safely at least once, and eight of the nine recorded at least one hit. Miller was 4-for-5 with two runs and three RBI, while Dickerson was 3-for-5. Booker, Hansen and Weems had two hits each, and Hornung scored twice.

It was Baylor’s first win against a team ranked in Baseball America’s Top 10 since sweeping fifth-ranked Nebraska in 2006.

Baylor plays two midweek games for the sixth consecutive week. The Bears travel to UT Arlington for a 6:30 p.m. CDT first pitch at Clay Gould Ballpark. Baylor hosts Sam Houston State for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch Wednesday in a makeup game of a March 18 rainout.

NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 29-22-1, including a 19-6-1 advantage in games played in Waco. The Bears are 21-18 against Nebraska since the inception of the Big 12 in 1997, including a 19-12 advantage in regular-season Big 12 meetings. This was Nebraska’s first Big 12 series win at Baylor Ballpark in five tries. … Booker (four games) and Campbell (four games) both extended hitting streaks. … Campbell has hit safely in four straight Big 12 games and in 15 of his last 16 league games. … Weems’ triple was his sixth career three-bagger in Big 12 play, tying Chris Durbin (2000-2003), Michael Griffin (2002-2005) and Kevin Sevigny (2003-2006) for second place all-time at Baylor.

BAYLOR BASEBALL SERIES FINALE DELAYED

WACO, TEXAS (April 27, 2008) Due to inclement weather in the Central Texas area, Sunday's Big 12 Conference series finale between Baylor and eighth-ranked Nebraska is in a delay.

The game will start no earlier than 2 p.m. CDT. The Huskers won the first two games of the series Saturday, taking the first game 6-4 in 10 innings and the second game 14-1 in seven innings.

BAYLOR BASEBALL DROPS PAIR TO No. 8 NEBRASKA

WACO, TEXAS (April 26, 2008) No. 8 Nebraska used a two-out, two-run single in the top of the 10th of the first game and a seven-run first inning in the nightcap to sweep a doubleheader against Baylor in Big 12 Conference action Saturday at Baylor Ballpark. The Huskers (32-7-1, 15-4-1) took the opener 6-4 in 10 innings and the second game 14-1 in seven innings. The Bears (24-20, 8-12) have lost five straight at home for the first time since 1994.

Brooks Kimmey’s pinch-hit, two-run homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth tied the opener 4-4. However, DJ Belfonte bounced a Willie Kempf 0-2 offering up the middle and into center in the top of the 10th, scoring Jake Opitz and Nick Sullivan. In the second pitch of the at bat, Baylor third baseman Shaver Hansen was able to get a glove on a Belfonte pop foul, but Hansen was not able to hold onto the ball before flipping over the railing outside Baylor’s dugout. Belfonte was the 12th batter of the game to face an 0-2 count and the first to reach base.

Baylor had a chance in the bottom of the inning as Adam Hornung doubled to center with one out. However, Aaron Miller struck out and Beamer Weems grounded out to end the game.

Kempf (5-2) pitched the 10th inning and took the loss, the first of his career at Baylor Ballpark in six decisions. He allowed two runs on one hit and two walks with one strikeout. Starter Kendal Volz allowed two runs on five hits and five walks with eight strikeouts over 6.0 innings.

Mike Nesseth (3-1) earned the victory in relief for Nebraska; he faced one batter, retiring Raynor Campbell with runners at first and second to end the ninth inning. Zach Herr worked the 10th inning to pick up his fourth save of the season.

Nebraska took control of the night cap early, scoring seven runs on four hits, three walks and two hit batsmen. Opitz started the scoring spree with a two-run double. Belfonte had an RBI single, Cody Neer added a two-run single, Ben Kline had an RBI sacrifice bunt, and Bryce Nimmo capped the frame with an RBI double.

The Huskers pushed their lead to 10-0 on a fourth-inning Belfonte sacrifice fly and a fifth-inning, two-run homer from Opitz. Baylor cracked the scoreboard without a hit in the bottom of the fifth. Jon Ringenberg walked to lead off the inning, moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a balk and scored on a Kimmey groundout.

Nebraska did not let up, scoring a run in the sixth on Kline’s RBI single. Tyler Rank added a pinch-hit, two-run double in the seventh, and the Huskers capped the scoring with another Belfonte sacrifice fly later in the inning. The game was called to due the conference’s run-rule, which is in effect for doubleheaders. The 13-run loss was Baylor’s largest margin of defeat at home since a 16-3 loss to Texas Tech in 1994.

Thad Weber (8-2) allowed one unearned run on four hits and four walks with four strikeouts in a complete-game effort for the Huskers.

Shawn Tolleson (4-3) took the loss for the Bears after. He recorded only two outs in the first inning and was saddled with all seven runs.

Baylor and Nebraska conclude the series Sunday at 1 p.m. CDT. Kempf is Baylor’s scheduled starter, but head coach Steve Smith said that could change. The Huskers send right-hander Aaron Pribanic (3-2, 3.86 ERA) to the mound.

NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 28-22-1, including an 18-6-1 advantage in games played in Waco. The Huskers snapped a seven-game losing streak at Baylor Ballpark.