Hopper Leads Huskers to 14-0 Win Over UNLV

Albuquerque, N.M. - Sophomore first baseman Matt Hopper (Morrison, Colo.) went 3 for 4 with a homer and four RBI, while four Husker pitchers combined for a six-hit shutout, as seventh-ranked Nebraska defeated UNLV 14-0 at the Applebee's Baseball Fiesta in Albuquerque, N.M., Sunday morning.

Hopper's homer, his first of the season, capped a six-run second inning, as the Huskers banged out 20 hits in improving to 3-3 on the season. Jeff Blevins (Sand Spring, Okla.) and Adam Stern (London, Ontario) paced the Husker offense with three hits apiece, as Blevins went 3 for 5 with an RBI, while Stern went 3 for 3 with two runs scored.

Redshirt freshman Justin Pekarek (Staplehurst, Neb.) started and pitched the first four innings, allowing just one hit with a pair of strikeouts in his first collegiate start. Waylon Byers (Milo, Iowa) picked up the win in relief, allowing four hits in three innings, striking out four and walking none. Brian Rodaway (Lincoln. Neb.) and Mike Sillman (Omaha, Neb.) pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to preserve NU's first shutout since a 8-0 win over Fresno State on May 14, 2000.

UNLV (4-7) had only one runner reach third all day, as the Rebels put together their only threat of the game in the ninth inning, putting runners on first and third with two outs before Sillman got Zach Strong to strike out to end the game.

Nebraska put the game out of reach early, scoring six runs in both the second and fourth innings. The Huskers exploded for six runs on five hits in the bottom the second off UNLV starter and loser Jake Gann, capitalizing on a pair of Rebel errors. With two out and runner on first, Tito Rivera (Schedectady, N.Y.) reached on an error by UNLV third baseman Dan Price, putting runners on first and second. Brandon Eymann (Papillion, Neb.), who went 2 for 4 with a rin scored, roped an RBI single into right, scoring Will Bolt (Conroe, Texas) from second, and moved to second, as the ball Rebel centerfielder John Cruz misplayed the hit. Jeff Leise (Omaha, Neb.) extended the lead to 3-0 with a two-run single to left. After a bunt single by Stern, Hopper capped the inning with a three-run homer to right, his first of the season, giving the Huskers a 6-0 lead.

Leise went 2 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored, extending his hitting streak to six games. Leise and Hopper are the only Huskers to hit safely in every game this season.

In the fourth, the Huskers added to the lead, batting around to score six runs on seven hits, as the first six hitters all scored. Hopper, Cole, who later added a solo homer in the sixth, and Bolt all had RBI singles with the bases loaded, while Justin Seely (Nacogdoches, Texas) drove home a run as he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Gann (0-1) did not survive the fourth, allowing 13 runs (six earned) on 12 hits in three innings, to take the loss, as three Rebel pitchers allowed 20 hits. For UNLV Garrett Shitanishi had two hits in the losing effort.

Nebraska returns to action next weekend, as the Huskers travel to Lafayette, Louisiana, for a three-day tournament. The Huskers will take on Ohio State on Friday, Feb. 23 at 3 p.m. and will also take on ULL and Wichita State during the weekend.