Hopper's Homers Helps Huskers to Win over WIU

Lincoln - Designated hitter Matt Hopper went 4-for-5 with two homers and five RBI as Nebraska, ranked No. 19 in Baseball America, won its ninth straight game, defeating Western Illinois 16-5 in front of 608 fans Tuesday evening.

With the win, the Huskers, who began an 11-game homestand tonight, improved to 27-11 on the season, while the Leathernecks, who entered Tuesday's contest winning 12 of their last 16 games, dropped to 13-21 on the year.

Hopper, who recorded his second multi-homer game of this season, tied career highs in hits, homers and RBIs as the Huskers improved to 12-2 at Buck Beltzer Stadium. Hopper is tied with Dan Johnson for the team lead in homers with 11 and is second to Justin Cowen with 40 RBI.

After the Leathernecks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Jeff Wellwood's homer on the first pitch of the game, NU starter Brian Rodaway settled down, retiring eight of the next nine hitters before being replaced by Jamie Rodrigue in the fourth. Rodaway allowed one run on two hits in three innings of work.

The first-inning advantage was WIU's only lead as the Huskers scored eight runs in the bottom of the second and totaled 16 runs and 20 hits to improve to 12-2 at Buck Beltzer Stadium this season.

In the bottom of the second, Hopper hit Justin Hawksworth's first pitch of the inning over the right centerfield fence to tie score at one. Hopper's first homer of the inning triggered an eight-run outburst that chased Hawkworth, who fell to 1-2 on the season with the loss. After Hopper's homer, Will Bolt and Dan Wright hit back-to-back singles before Josh Hesse's RBI single scored Bolt and sent Wright to third, setting up Jeff Leise's sacrifice fly which extended the lead to 3-1. With two outs, the Huskers added to their lead with an RBI single by Brandt Vleiger and an RBI double by Justin Cowen before Hopper's second homer of the inning chased Hawksworth, who gave up eight runs on seven hits in 1 2/3 innings and fell to 1-2 on the season. In all, NU tallied eight runs on seven hits in the inning.

Hopper became the first Nebraska player since All-American Marc Sagmoen to homer twice in same inning. Sagmoen accomplished the feat against St. John's on March 20, 1993. Hopper is also the first player to homer twice in one inning at Buck Beltzer Stadium.

In the third, the Huskers added another run, despite not putting a ball out of the infield. Gozart was hit by a pitch, Leise singled and advanced to second on a throwing error, Jamal Strong walked loading the based before Vleiger was hit by a pitch, scoring Gozart. The Huskers continued to pour on the runs, scoring a pair of runs in the fifth, four more in the sixth and another in the eighth.

A freshman from St. Clair, Mo., Rodrigue improved to 5-2 on the season, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits in three innings before Thom Ott and Andy Bent closed out the contest. Ott, who pitched a scoreless two innings, has now gone nine straight appearances without allowing an earned run and has a 1.13 ERA.

Jeff Wellwood provided most of the offense for Western Illinois, hitting his first two homers of the season, the first opponent to accomplish the feat since Mississippi State's Brian Wiese homered twice against NU on May 29, 1999. He finished with 2-for-4 with two homers and 3 RBI, as the Leathernecks were held to just five hits.

The Huskers continue their homestand Wednesday afternoon against Western Illinois, beginning at 3 p.m.

Notes:
*--Justin Cowen's double in the second was his Big 12 leading 18th of the season. He tied Burt Beattie (1985-86) for the most doubles by a two-year player with 39.

*--With tonight's win, NU coach Dave Van Horn has a 93-49 record at NU and 199 Division I win in seven seasons at Northwestern State and Nebraska.