Huskers Sweep Louisiana Tech

Ruston, La. - Wearing black jerseys for the first time in school history, the Nebraska baseball team swept Louisiana Tech 16-3, 14-8 in a doubleheader at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, La., in the Bone & Joint Classic.

The sweep improved the Huskers to 3-2 and marked the first time since April 13, 1994 (vs. Kansas State) that the Huskers swept a doubleheader on the road.

"Offensively, our bats really came alive and that was nice to see," NU Coach Dave Van Horn said. "We got some key hits and last weekend in Arizona we didn't have them and that is one reason why we lost a couple of games."

On the afternoon, the Huskers were powered by junior first baseman Ken Harvey. In the two games, Harvey was a combined 7-for-9 with three home runs, a double and six RBI. In game one, Harvey hit two solo home runs and followed that performance with a grand slam in the second game.

Also providing some offensive highlights were shortstop Brandt Vlieger and designated hitter Jeff Hedman. Vlieger was 4-for-5 in the first game at the plate with two home runs, four runs scored and two RBI. Hedman hit his second career grand slam in the first game and in game two, he was 2-for-4 with two more RBI and a solo home run.

Game One Recap -- The Huskers fell behind 2-0 in the first when Louisiana Tech scored two unearned runs off NU starter and eventual winner junior Scott Fries (2-0) in the bottom of the first inning. In the top of the second, Harvey hit a monster blast to dead center and Vlieger followed with a shot to left center to tie the game.

Trailing 3-2 in the fourth, Nebraska took the lead for good at 4-3. Harvey and Vlieger hit back-to-back homers again in the fifth to extend the Husker lead to 6-3. In the sixth, NU exploded as the first nine batters reached base and scored in the inning before an out was recorded.

Fries threw six innings allowing no earned runs on just five hits while striking out seven to earn his second win of the year.

Game Two Recap -- Nebraska trailed 4-0 after the first inning when the Bulldogs' T.J. Soto hit a grand slam off NU starter Chad Wiles. The Huskers trailed 5-1 before having their second big inning of the twinight doubleheader. In the top of the fifth, the Huskers exploded for eight runs on just five hits. Harvey led the onslaught with a grand slam, his third home run of the day. Hedman hit his second home run of the afternoon in the seventh to extend the Nebraska lead to 11-7.

Louisiana Tech threatened in the eighth inning. Trailing 11-8, the Bulldogs had the tying run at the plate with no outs, but freshman Steve Hale worked out of the jam getting a strikeout and a double play.

Nebraska added three insurance runs in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by second baseman Will Bolt and a two-run double by catcher Brian Johnson.

On the mound for the Huskers in the second game, Brandon Penas (1-0) earned his first win as a Husker pitching five innings in relief of Wiles. Hale earned the save pitching the final 2.1 innings and shutting down the Bulldogs.