Komine Leads No. 5 Nebraska to 13-1 Victory Over Northwestern St

Natchitoches, La. - All-America right-hander Shane Komine made sure that Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn's return to Northwestern State was a successful one, striking out a season-high 12 batters and allowing just an unearned run in eight innings, as No. 5 Nebraska won its 12th straight game, downing the Demons, 13-1, in front of a crowd of 850 at Brown-Stroud Field Thursday evening.

Komine, a junior from Honolulu, recorded his 12th career double-digit strikeout performance and scattered three hits to improve to 5-1 on the season. Komine's season-high strikeout effort gives him 288 in his career, one shy of tying Mike Zajeski's school record of 289 set between 1988 and 1992.

"Everything fell into place tonight," said Komine, who has won his last five decisions. "I was able to throw a lot of strikes and that helped to set up my curve ball with two strikes. The last couple of starts, I have not been effective with two strikes, but I got in to a groove and our defense was outstanding."

Thursday's game marked the first time that NU head coach Dave Van Horn and assistant coach Rob Childress returned to the Natchitoches, La., school where the duo coached from 1995 to 1997 before turning the Husker program around.

"Its good to come in here and get the win," Van Horn said. "I have a lot of good memories of this place and to come down here and beat a very solid team is very good win for us."

With the win, the Huskers improved to 14-3 on the season, NU's best start since 1998, while Komine's 12-strikeout performance topped his season high of 10 at Texas Tech on March 2. After allowing the run in the second, he retired 19 of the final 23 batters he faced, including 13 in a row at one point.

While Komine shut down the Demon (16-7) offense, shortstop Brandon Eymann paced the Huskers, going 2 for 3 with three RBI, including a two-run sixth inning single to break a 1-1, as NU scored four in the frame off Demon starter and loser Jason Slanina, who fell to 2-1 on the season.

"I was just trying to score the runner from third, and I got a pitch I was able to drive and turned on it," Eymann said of his game-winning hit.

In the top of the sixth with one out and a runner at first, third baseman Jeff Blevins' grounder was booted by NSU second baseman David Quattrociocci, putting runners on first and second. Second baseman Will Bolt was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Eymann chased Slanina with a two-run single to right center, giving the Huskers a 3-1 lead. NU would increase the lead to 5-1 on RBI singles by catcher Tito Rivera and center fielder Jeff Leise, providing Komine more than enough support.

The Huskers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, scoring a run in the top of the second on an RBI single by shortstop Brandon Eymann. Third baseman Jeff Blevins led off with a double to the wall in left center and moved to third on a ground out by Will Bolt, before Eymann blooped a single into short left. The Demons tied the score with an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, third baseman Tyler Durham was hit by a Komine offering. He moved to third on an error by Eymann and scored on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Richard Solis.

After plating four in the sixth, the Huskers extended their lead with eight runs of a trio of Demon relievers in the final three innings, as NU pounded out 17 hits and reached double figures for the ninth time this season. Junior right fielder Adam Stern went 4 for 6, while senior first baseman Dan Johnson and Rivera each added three hits in the win.

The Huskers conclude their Louisiana trip tomorrow and Saturday, as NU will travel to Shreveport for a three-game series at Centenary. The Huskers and Gents will square off in a doubleheader on Friday at 1p.m. and a single game Saturday at noon.