Huskers and Texas Tech Split Extra-Inning Games

Lincoln -- Chad Landry hit a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Red Raiders to a 7-5 victory, ending Nebraska's chance at a series sweep. The Huskers won the first game of the twin bill, 7-6, in 10 innings after rallying from a 6-3 deficit in the eighth inning.

Texas Tech batted through the order in the eighth inning, rallying from a 5-2 deficit to score three unearned runs to tie the game at 5-5. After a one-out error by Husker shortstop Brandt Vlieger, the Red Raiders strung together four hits and one walk off three different NU pitchers, including a double by Marco Cunningham. Chad Wiles finally got the Huskers out of the inning when he got Chad Eiguren to fly out to center field with the bases loaded.

Wiles (2-2) retired the next six batters heading into the 11th, when he gave up a single to Shaun Larkin and the home run to Landry. The Huskers went quietly in the bottom of the inning, managing just one hit.

Nebraska built its lead when it broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth on a Jamal Strong two-RBI single which scored Vlieger and Will Bolt. NU added another run in the fifth when Adam Stern singled to right to score John Cole from second.

The Huskers used five different pitchers in the game and got several solid performances. Sophomore R.D. Spiehs started and gave up five hits and two earned runs through 4.1 innings. Scott Fries allowed just two hits in three innings and allowed two runs, both unearned. But Thom Ott and Trevor Bullock came in the eighth and combined to face five batters and get just one out. Wiles was charged with the loss after throwing the final 3.1 innings.

Justin Cowan extended his hitting streak to 17 games, tied for 10th longest in school history with a pair of hits in the game. Matt Hopper's solo home run in the second inning gave Nebraska an early 1-0 lead.

Game One

Vlieger played the role of the hero in the first game, lifting a two-out, two-run home run in the eighth inning to cap a three-run inning and tie the game at 6-6.

Nebraska then loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th after Cole singled to left, stern reached on a bunt single and Hopper was intentionally walked. Cole then scored on a wild pitch from Kevin Tracey to give the Huskers their ninth win in 10 games.

Dan Johnson hit his fifth home run in as many games to pull the Huskers within one run at 2-1 in the second inning. Texas Tech extended its lead to 5-1 after scoring one run in the first three innings and two in the fourth frame. The Huskers answered with two runs in the fourth on an RBI double from Cole and an RBI single from Hopper that scored Cole.

Johnson, Cole and Stern each recorded two hits in the game, while Hopper and Vlieger drove in two runs apiece. Husker freshman Jamie Rodrigue (4-1) had his shortest outing of the season, allowing eight hits and five earned runs through four innings.

Bullock (2-0) earned the victory after throwing the final two thirds of an inning.

Nebraska (17-8, 7-4 Big 12) will host North Dakota State on Tuesday at 3 p.m., before heading to Waco, Texas, for a three-game league series against Baylor.