Johnson Powers Huskers Past Creighton

Lincoln -- Dan Johnson went 2-for-5 with a pair of homers and four RBI, as Nebraska won its sixth straight game, defeating in-state rival Creighton, 14-9, in front of a raucous crowd of 2,126 at Buck Beltzer Stadium Wednesday evening.

Johnson's first homer off Creighton reliever Dan Gooris, broke a 9-9 tie in the bottom of the fifth, while his second came in the eighth, provided the Huskers with their final two runs in a wild game which saw six lead changes in the first four and a half innings. Johnson, a senior from Coon Rapids, Minn., now has 11 homers and 37 RBI on the season.

With the win, the Huskers, ranked as high as fifth by Baseball America, improve to 23-7 heading into a three-game series against fellow Big 12 co-leader Texas this weekend. Creighton falls to 10-16 with the loss and has lost five straight to Nebraska, dating back to the 1999 season.

"This win gives us momentum heading into the weekend, after both teams battling so hard early, Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn said."

Waylon Byers picked up the win in relief to improve to 2-0 on the season, but Steve Hale and Thom Ott combined for four scoreless innings of work. Byers allowed a pair of runs in 1.2 innings, but left with the Huskers holding an 11-9 advantage on Johnson's 10th homer of the season.

In all, the Huskers pounded out 17 hits, including three each from Matt Hopper, who also drove in three runs, and Josh Hesse, while Will Bolt went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Gooris took the loss for CU, falling to 0-3 on the season, as he allowed a pair of runs in his lone inning of work.

Neither starter lasted past the third inning, as the teams exchanged runs and errors throughout the first four and half innings. Creighton scored two in the top of the second, only to see NU come back with three in the bottom of the inning. Both teams scored in the third and fourth, including a run on a balk which was reversed twice, prompting the ejection of Bluejay Coach Jack Dahm. The two teams combined for 30 hits and eight errors, four each by both teams. Despite scoring 14 runs, the Huskers also left 13 runners on base.

"Wow," Van Horn said. "I know both coaches were frustrated today (with the defense). The first six innings were crazy. I think that this is one of the strangest games that I have been a part of."

The Huskers return to action on Friday, when they host nationally ranked Texas for a three-game series. First pitch for Friday's contest will be at 6:30 p.m.