NU Hits Six Doubles in Win Over North Dakota State

Lincoln -- Nebraska's Justin Cowan went 4-for-5 at the plate, scored four runs with two doubles, his 14th and 15th of the year, as 30th-ranked Nebraska defeated North Dakota State, 12-2, at Buck Beltzer Stadium in Lincoln.

North Dakota State jumped out to an early lead after Jason Hoff hit a two-run home run off Brian Rodaway in the first inning. But Thom Ott (1-0) pitched the next three innings to earn the win, holding the Bison (9-2) to just one hit as the Huskers stormed back to take the win and improve to 18-8 on the year.

"This was a good win against a solid hitting team," Head Coach Dave Van Horn said. "North Dakota State was 9-1 coming in here and that homerun Hoff hit was a rope into the wind. This game gave us a chance to give some guys some extra at bats and gain experience at some different positions before we head to Baylor."

The Huskers pulled within one when first baseman Dan Wright hit a two-out double to score Cowan, who also reached on a two-out double.

The Huskers tied the game in the third when Cowan scored his first of four runs after reaching on an error by the NDSU shortstop. Cowan, who extended his hitting streak to 19 games -- seventh longest in school history, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Wright again drove him in on a single deep in the hole the third baseman.

Nebraska took charge of the game in the fourth, scoring three runs after the Bison committed three errors, a balk, a walk and three hits. Freshman catcher Aaron Gozart led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a balk by NDSU starter Aaron Tweet. Will Bolt hit a double to right field to score Gozart and give the Huskers their first lead of the game.

Jamal Strong extended his streak of reaching base to 46 consecutive games when he reached on a fielding error by first baseman Corey Eckhoff, who then threw the ball away when when he tried to toss the ball to the pitcher, allowing Strong to reach second. Strong capitalized on the third error of the inning when catcher Jason Brueske threw the ball into centerfield on a failed pickoff attempt. Strong finally scored on a Shabala ground out and Bolt scored on a hit by Cowan.

The Huskers added another run in the fifth when Brandt Vlieger doubled to score Wright, who had reached on a walk. In the sixth, Nebraska added three hits, including doubles from Cowan and Vlieger to tack on three more runs. Nebraska sealed the ballgame in the eighth with three unearned runs, capped by a two-RBI single from Bolt.

North Dakota State threatened to score in eighth after third baseman Matt Hopper committed back-to-back errors with no outs, but pitcher Dave Schneider struck out the last two batters after an NDSU sacrifice. NDSU stranded eight baserunners in the game.

Six different pitchers threw for the Huskers and combined to hold the Bison to just four total hits through the last eight innings. Justin Cowan's 15 doubles this season give him 36 in his career, 10th-best in NU career history.

Nebraska, which is just one game out of second place in the Big 12, will take on No. 17 Baylor Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Waco, Texas. The two teams are currently tied for third place in the league at 7-5.