Komine Ties School Record with 17 Strikeouts in Husker Sweep

Lincoln, Neb. -- Sophomore pitcher Shane Komine (Honolulu, Hawaii) tied a school single-game record with 17 strikeouts in the first game of a twinbill against Kansas, as the Huskers swept a double header from Kansas, 9-3 and 14-2. Komine allowed just five hits and three unearned runs in a 9-3 win to start the afternoon. Senior lefty Scott Fries then followed up by holding the Jayhawks to just five total hits as the Huskers run-ruled KU, 14-2, in seven innings. The wins snapped a four-game Big 12 skid for the Huskers.

"We hadn't won a double header yet this season, so these two wins felt great," Head Coach Dave Van Horn said. "Shane was incredible in the first game. I would have liked to see him break the school record, but he had already thrown 136 pitches. We hit the ball well today, but we need to do the same tomorrow."

Komine (5-3) and the Huskers got off to a quick start in the first game, as Komine struck out eight of the first 11 batters he faced. He cruised through the first four innings, allowing just three hits and one walk. A two-out error in fifth prolonged the inning, allowing Doug Dreher to hit a two-run home run tie the game.

Nebraska didn't waste any time, retaking the lead in the fifth, scoring three runs on just two hits. KU's Rusty Philbrick walked one batter, hit two and threw one wild pitch to assist the Huskers. Matt Hopper hit an RBI single to score Adam Stern and Brandt Vlieger earned an RBI when he was hit with the bases loaded to score Dan Johnson.

Hopper jumpstarted the NU offense by hitting the first of his three home runs on the day in the first inning to give Nebraska a 1-0 lead. Johnson homered for the Huskers in the third inning, with a two-run shot to straight-away centerfield, giving NU a 3-0 edge. Nebraska added three runs in the seventh on five hits, including back-to-back doubles from John Cole and Vlieger.

Sophomore Thom Ott closed out the game with a scoreless ninth. Ott walked two with one out before forcing Casey Spanish to ground into a double play.

Hopper went 3-for-4 with two RBI in the first game. Cole and Justin Cowan each had two hits for NU. The only disappointment on offense came as senior Jamal Strong had his school-record streak of reaching base in 51 consecutive games and all 79 as a starter, come to an end as Strong went 0-for-5 in the first game.

The Husker offense continued to roll in the second game, pounding out another 12 hits as NU run-ruled Kansas, 14-2, in seven innings. Fries allowed just five hits and one walk through five innings. Hopper continued his hot hitting with a pair of home runs, a two-run shot in the first and a solo homer in the fifth, to finish 2-for-3 with four RBI.

Nebraska tagged KU starter Brandon O'Neal for seven hits and eight runs through the first five innings. NU got on the board early, scoring four runs in the first inning. Strong led off the game after being hit by the first pitch of the ballgame. After a Stern hit and a Cowan walk, Johnson hit a bases loaded sacrifice fly to put the Huskers on the board. Hopper then made it 4-0 with his three-run round tripper.

The Huskers went ahead 6-0 in the fourth when Adam Shabala bunted for a single to score Cole, but O'Neal threw the ball away, allowing Will Bolt to score from first. KU added their only runs of the game in sixth with three consecutive hits, including doubles form Ryan Klocksien and Jesse Gremminger, off Fries.

Strong led the Huskers with three hits, reaching base four times and scoring a pair of runs. Hopper went 2-for-3 with five RBI. Nebraska (21-11, 9-8 Big 12) will send freshman Jamie Rodrigue (4-2) to the mound for Sunday's game, while Kansas (19-17, 6-11 Big 12) will Pete Smart (6-5) to the hill.