Husker Defensive Falls Apart in 12-10 loss to OU

Lincoln - The Nebraska baseball team (9-6 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12 Conference) struggled defensively in dropping a 12-10 decision to Oklahoma (11-7 and 1-1) at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman, Okla., on Saturday afternoon.

The Huskers committed a season-high five errors that helped contribute to six Sooner runs in the final six innings.

But despite the miscues, the Huskers, who had a five-game winning streak snapped, had their chances late.

In the eighth trailing 9-6, Nebraska had the bases loaded with two outs and knocked OU starter Kyle Denney out of the game. Danny Kimura hit an infield single off reliever Jeff Bajenaru to score Will Bolt to pull the Huskers within 9-7. Still with the bases loaded and two outs, Jeff Hedman lined out to Sean Murphy at second to end the threat.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Huskers had one out, but right fielder Scott Larsen dropped a lazy fly ball to right by Jeremy Vidales. After Jarod Bearinger struck out Chad Cochell, Sean Murphy singled home Vidales and Bobby Walters ripped a home run to left to increase the Sooner lead to 12-7.

Nebraska didn't go easily in the ninth. Ken Harvey capped a 4-for-5 day with a home run to right field to pull NU within 12-8. Brandt Vlieger walked and after Brian Johnson flied out to center, Bolt singled to put runners at first and second with one out. Pinch hitter Jim Bailey struck out, but Jamal Strong hit a single to right field scoring Vlieger bringing NU within 12-9. Adam Shabala followed with an RBI-single to make the game 12-10. Strong and Shabala stole third and second with a 2-2 count on Kimura. After fouling off three Bajenaru pitches, Kimura struck out to end the game.

Bearinger (0-1) took the loss pitching 5.2 innings and allowing just one earned run. Denney earned his first career win as a Sooner pitching 7.2 innings and allowing four earned runs. Bajenaru earned the save allowing three runs in 1.1 innings.

"What really killed us was our defense," NU Coach Dave Van Horn said. "Every time we didn't make the right play, they took advantage of it. We played hard. We never quit and this was a real emotional game for both teams. We battled them to the end when we could have folded early."

The Sooners took advantage of Husker mistakes in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings thanks in part to four Husker errors. In the fourth, Zach Lekse was going to be thrown out at second on an attempted steal, but in the ensuing rundown, Bolt threw the ball in the OU dugout. With Leske on at third, Richard Park hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 7-6. A Nebraska error led to a run in the fifth and in the sixth, an error by Bolt helped contribute to another Sooner run.

Nebraska added two runs in the fourth to tie the game at six. Jamal Strong reached on an error and Adam Shabala doubled to lead off the fourth. Strong scored on a sacrifice fly by Danny Kimura and Shabala scored on an RBI single by Jeff Hedman.

But the big Oklahoma inning came in the third. The Sooners knocked Nebraska starter Steve Hale out of the game. With one out, Zach Leske doubled down the line to start the OU rally. Bajenaru singled, Casey Bookout doubled, Richard Park walked and Josh Witcher hit a bases-clearing triple to give OU a 5-4 lead. Witcher scored to make the game 6-4 on an RBI single by Chad Cochell.

Nebraska jumped ahead 4-1 in the third on a sacrifice fly that scored Danny Kimura. Nebraska had the bases loaded with no one out, but only scored once

In the second inning, Johnson and Bolt hit consecutive singles and when Adam Stern laid down a sacrifice bunt, Denney threw the ball in right field and Johnson scored from second. However, the Sooners got of the inning when Zach Lekse threw out Bolt at the plate on a ground ball by Strong. Shabala then hit into an inning-ending double play.

Nebraska scored twice in the first inning to take the early lead. Jeff Hedman had an RBI ground out and Harvey picked up an RBI single to put the Huskers ahead 2-0.

The Huskers and Sooners conclude the three-game series at 1 p.m. on Sunday at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman, Okla.