NU men’s baseball team comes back to split double with Oklahoma

Nebraska’s three-game weekend series at Oklahoma didn’t get started until 1:00 Sunday afternoon, and the Huskers dug themselves into a hole before the first inning was over.

Friday’s and Saturday’s games were pushed back because of bad weather, and by the time Nebraska and Oklahoma took the field amid 60 degree temperatures and clear skies, most of the Oklahoma faithful were cooped up inside watching their men’s basketball team lose to North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament. 

The Huskers split Sunday’s double header with the No. 11 ranked Sooners.

Oklahoma won the first game 12-9 and the Huskers won the second game 11-9. The split brought the Huskers to 16-9-1 on the year, 4-4 in the Big 12 Conference.

The Sooners’ loss in the second game was their first home loss of the year. OU is now 22-6 and 3-2 in the Big 12.

Nebraska starting pitcher Casey Hauptman gave up four runs in the first inning of the first game, followed by two more in the second to put the Huskers down 6-1.

NU settled down after that. Hauptman pitched into the sixth inning and gave up nine runs – seven of them earned – in a losing effort.

“I thought we caught up to them in the third inning (of game one) and competed with them from that point on,” NU coach Mike Anderson said in statement released after the second game. 

Jeff Tezak hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning to keep the Huskers in the first game, but Oklahoma scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to go up 9-3.

The home run was Tezak’s first of the year and the first of two in the game. He would add another two-run shot in the top of the ninth.

A steady breeze blowing out made the field susceptible to the long ball. Hitters from both teams took advantage, the teams combined for 12 home runs in two games.  

DJ Belfonte homered to start off a two-run seventh inning and Boomer Collins hit a two-run homer while pinch-hitting in the eighth to narrow Oklahoma’s lead to two runs. But Nebraska would be unable to claw any closer in the 12-9 loss.

The Huskers were able to bounce back in the evening game, however, winning 11-9. Left-hander Jordan Roualdes got credit for the win, improving his record to 4-1 while giving up five earned runs in five innings.

“As much as it was an offensive day, I thought Roualdes was the key to it getting deeper into the game for us,” Anderson said.

Mike Nesseth, a sophomore right-hander, entered in the seventh and pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, giving up two runs and striking out five.

Nesseth has now started four games for Nebraska, coming out of the bullpen five times. His appearance Sunday earned him his second save of the season.

“It was a real competitive game. We didn’t want to drop the second game of the series and give them the series win today,” NU first baseman Tyler Farst said. “This puts us in contention to come out and win the series tomorrow.”

The Huskers took their first lead of the series in the top of the fourth on a pair of back-to-back home runs.

With two outs in the top of the fourth, NU catcher Cody Ashe hit a two-run homer followed by Jed Hanson’s solo shot in the next at-bat.

Those home runs erased a set of back-to-back home runs the Sooners started off the second inning with.

“Oklahoma comes out and hits back-to-back homers and we come back and get some guys on and get the home runs and we start to get rolling,” said Farst, who scored on the Ashe’s homerun.

“They (Ashe and Hanson) both had great at-bats and were able to drive the ball the other way and get good swings on them.”

The Huskers never trailed after that, though Oklahoma would keep it close. A two-RBI double from Farst in the top of seventh put the Huskers up 10-5 en route to a 11-9. Farst went 4-for-5 with three RBIs in the second game.

The Huskers hit seven home runs on Sunday and have now hit 28 home runs on the year. In 2008, NU finished the season with 38 home runs.

After tomorrow afternoon’s game, the Huskers will head straight to Wichita, Kan., for a game against the Shockers on Tuesday night.

RYANBOETEL@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM