Centenary Ends Nebraska's 13-Game Win Streak

Sheveport, La. - Ryan Hageman's two-run single in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted Centenary to a 9-8 victory over No. 5 Nebraska, ending the Huskers' 13-game winning streak in the second game of a doubleheader at Shehee Stadium in Shreveport Friday. Nebraska, which scored single runs in the eighth and ninth to send the nightcap into extra innings, won the opener 17-4, pounding out 13 hits.

With one out in the bottom of the 10th in the nightcap, Ryan Stephens drew a walk, moved to second on a single to left by Bobby Gilliam and scored on Hageman's single to center, which was misplayed by NU centerfielder Jeff Leise, allowing Gilliam to score from first with the winning run.

"It is always difficult to win the second game of a doubleheader, especially on the road and after you win the first one," Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn said. "We did a good job of coming back to take the lead, but we had too many walks."

Redshirt freshman Derrick Conte (0-1) took the loss in relief, allowing two runs in two innings of relief. Despite allowing NU to overcome a 7-5 deficit, Jeff Poulin (1-3) earned the win for Centenary, which improves to 7-14-1 on the season, pitching the final four innings.

NU, which had walked only four people in the previous four games, walked six and hit another, partially leading to six of Centenary's nine runs in dropping to 15-4 on the season.

"Our pitching was disappointing in the second game," Van Horn said. "You can't walk as many guys as we did and expect to win."

After retiring nine of the first hitters through the first three innings, NU starter Thom Ott ran into trouble in the fourth inning after NU took a 1-0 lead. Ott walked the bases loaded before Ryan Stephens drove a two-run double down the right field line, giving Centenary a 2-1 lead and ending Ott's day, Gilliam then greeted NU reliever Steve Hale with an RBI single to center before Hagaman's RBI ground out capped the four-run outburst.

Ott lasted three innings, allowing four runs on one hit, but walked three and hit another, as neither starter was involved in the decision.

The Huskers came back in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs off Centenary starter Joe Robideaux. With one out, Justin Seely doubled to left center before NU loaded the bases, as Johnson walked and Cole was hit by a pitch. Josh Hesse then cleared the bases with a three-run double, tying the score at four.

Nebraska regained the lead at 5-4 in the sixth, as Justin Seely's grounder scored Jeff Leise, who walked and stole second and third earlier in the inning. The live was short-lived as the Gents scored three off Hale in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI double by Hagaman, who went 2 for 4 with three RBI, and a two-run pinch hit homer by Jason Schick.

Nebraska came back, cutting the lead to 7-6 on Jeff Leise's second homer of the season in the eighth before plating the tying run in the top of the ninth. Seely led off with a double, moved to third on Dan Johnson's grounder to second and scored on Cole's sacrifice fly to center. Leise, who went 2 for 5, extended his hit streak to 17 games.

The Huskers seemingly took control of the contest, taking the lead at 8-7 in the top of the 10th, as Stern's two-out RBI single scored Will Bolt, who led off the inning with a single. Bolt, Stern and Seely, who drove in a pair of runs, all had two hits in the losing effort

In the opener, Stern paced a 15-hit attack, going 3 for 5 with five RBI and four runs scored, as NU won its 13th straight game, 17-4, in a game called after seven innings. The junior from London, Ontario, belted his second homer of the season in a four-run second inning against the Gents.

After taking a 2-1 lead in the first on RBI singles by Matt Hopper and Seely, the Huskers broke open the game in the second, taking a 6-1 lead. Consecutive singles by catcher Jed Morris and shortstop Brandon put runners on first and third with no outs before Hesse, who went 2 for 5 with three RBI, brought home Morris with an RBI single to right to give NU a 3-1 advantage. Stern increased the margin with a three-run homer, his second of the season, to right of Centenary starter Nick Waak, who allowed 11 runs on 10 hits in five innings to fall to 2-3 on the season.

In the fourth, Dan Johnson, who went 1 for 2 with three RBI, gave the Huskers an 8-1 lead with a towering two run homer to dead center field, his seventh of the year in the fourth inning. Johnson, who now has six homers in his last seven games, went 1 for 3 with three RBI and a pair of walks in the opener.

Junior R. D. Spiehs picked up the victory, going the first six innings to improve to 3-1 on the season. The right-hander from Grand Island allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out seven before Brian Rodaway pitched a scoreless seventh.

Offensively, five players had two or more hits in the opener, as the Huskers scored six in the sixth and added a pair in the seventh in cruising to the win.

The Huskers conclude their Louisiana trip Saturday afternoon, as the Huskers take on the Gents in a single game starting at noon.