Johnson Keys Husker Victory Over Texas Tech

Lubbock, Texas -- Dan Johnson hit a three-run home run in the as Nebraska scored five runs in the top of the seventh to defeat Texas Tech 8-7 before a Dan Law Field crowd of 2,693.

Johnson went 2-4 on the day with four RBI's.

"It felt good to come out today and make an impact," Johnson said. "We all came together today when we got down and got the win. We made some clutch plays when we needed them."

Coach Dave Van Horn was pleased with the victory.

"I thought that it was a great game today," Van Horn said. "Our pitching was outstanding. Rodrigue had good stuff, Hale pitched outstanding and Thom Ott came in and did a great job in a tough situation. This was a big win for us to come in here and take the first two games of the series."

Nebraska got a run in the first when Jeff Leise scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Matt Hopper. Tech was able to counter the Nebraska run with a run of their own in the bottom of the first when Anthony Arnerich came home on a single by Gera Alvarez.

Nebraska was able to get another run in the second when catcher Jed Morris doubled in Will Bolt, but Tech scored a run in the third when Tyler Carson singled in Bryon Smith.

A 43 minute rain-delay suspended play in the top of the fifth, with the score tied at two.

When play resumed, Brandon Eymann led off the top of the fifth with a single, but Leise grounded into a double-play to end the Husker threat. Nebraska again had a runner in scoring position when Dan Johnson doubled with one out in the sixth, but Tech pitcher Chris Phillips struck out John Cole and Jeff Blevins to end the inning.

Tech put runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the sixth and Nick Blankenship responded with a single to left scoring Arnerich.

Steve Hale relieved Rodrigue with runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the sixth.

Rodrigue threw 5.1 innings, giving up four runs on six hits while striking out four.

Tech scored two in the sixth, but the rally ended when Hopper caught a line drive off the bat off pinch hitter Jason Rainey.

The NU bats woke up in the seventh when Jed Morris drew a walk and Brandon Eymann doubled home Drew Anderson who ran for Morris. After Leise flied out to left, Adam Stern doubled down the left field line to bring home Eymann. Tech then intentionally walked Hopper to face Johnson. Johnson crushed a 2-1 pitch from Blake McGinley to right center, scoring both Hopper and Stern for his first homerun of the season.

The Huskers scored again in the ninth with a pair of singles off the bats of Leise and Stern. Hopper walked for the second time. Willie Jones hit for Johnson in the ninth, sending a sacrifice fly deep to right to score Leise. Cole flied out to end the inning.

Tech didn't lie down as Rainey hit a two-run homerun with one out in the ninth to cut the Husker lead to two, and Brennan Burns singled up the center to keep the Red Raider rally alive. Thom Ott relieved Hale with one out in the ninth. Nick Blankenship singled to left, bringing in Arnerich and putting runners at first and second. Ott then struck out Hodges looking to record the save.

Hale threw three innings of relief for the win. Hale gave up three runs on three hits, while striking out two.

With a pair of singles tonight, Leise and Hopper both extended their hitting streaks to 11 and 12 games, respectively.

The same two teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m., as Nebraska will go for the sweep in the series.