Huskers Sweep Texas A&M, Extend Win Streak to 13

Lincoln, Neb. -- The 19th-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers (31-11, 16-8) extended their win streak to 13 games, winning a twinbill from Texas A&M Saturday, to complete a three-game series sweep and give the Huskers their third straight Big 12 sweep. It is the first time Nebraska has swept three straight conference series in school history. NU also tied a school record, winning their 12th straight Division I contest, last accomplished in 1983.

Nebraska's Dan Johnson tied a school and Big 12 record by pumping out three home runs in the first game to lead the Huskers to an 11-3 victory. The Huskers combined for 14 hits in the second game, collecting three hits from Adam Stern and Will Bolt, to cruise to the 10-3 win in front of a season-best crowd of 1,859 at Buck Beltzer Stadium.

Despite getting short outings from both starters, the Husker bullpen came through as Steve Hale earned the win in the first game, allowing just four hits and two runs in 6.2 innings, while R.D. Spiehs grabbed the win in the nightcap, scattering five hits and giving up just one run in four innings of relief. Husker pitchers held the Aggies to 0-for-17 hitting in the two games with runners in scoring position.

Johnson tormented the Aggies in the first game, cranking home runs in the third, fifth and eighth innings. The Huskers jumped on the board early, getting back-to-back home runs from freshman designated hitter Matt Hopper and senior shortstop Brandt Vlieger. Justin Cowan drove in a run with a single to right field, before Hopper's three-run homer made it 4-0, Nebraska. Nebraska pushed its lead to 5-0 on Vlieger's solo shot.

Johnson accounted four of Nebraska's final runs with his leadoff solo home run in the third inning. In the fifth, Cowan hit his 21st double of the season and scored on a home run to straight-away center field. Five batters later, Josh Hesse hit a two-out RBI single to score Hopper, giving the Huskers a 10-2 lead. Johnson capped the Husker scoring with a two-out home run in the top of the eighth.

Hale was impressive for Nebraska, recording six strikeouts and giving up a run in the fifth and seventh innings. Hale came in for starter Trevor Bullock, who gave up five hits and one run 1.2 innings. Andy Bent closed the game out, recording the final two outs.

Johnson finished the game 3-for-4 with four RBI, while Hopper was 3-for-5 with three RBI. Johnson's three home runs put him in front of Daylon Holt for the Big 12 lead with 15 home runs.

Texas A&M 010 010 100 3 9 2
Nebraska 501 030 11x 11 11 2

In the second game, Texas A&M capitalized on a two-out rally getting a double from Holt before starter Chad Wiles walked three straight batters to push Holt across home, to give A&M its only lead in the series at 1-0.

Nebraska's Adam Shabala led off the first with a walk and advanced to third on an Adam Stern single that was misplayed by the left fielder. Cowan answered with a single to score Stern and Shabala and give Nebraska 2-1 lead before the Aggies could record an out.

Wiles again allowed a two-out rally in the second, giving up back-to-back singles to Eric Reed and Neal Stephenson. But Wiles got Holt to fly out to center to strand the runners at first and third.

Nebraska hit three doubles in the second inning to chase starter Khalid Ballouli from the game to add three runs in the frame. Bolt led off the second with a double and scored on an RBI single from Adam Shabala. Stern and Cowan then hit back-to-back doubles to give Nebraska a 5-1 lead.

Stern, who finished 3-for-4, drove in two more runs with an infield single up the middle in the fifth to score Hesse and Bolt. Bolt, a native of Conroe, Texas, finished 3-for-4 with two doubles.

Hopper hit his 13th home run of the season in the eighth to lock up the 10-3 win.

Texas A&M 101 000 100 3 11 2
Nebraska 230 130 01x 10 14 0