LINCOLN ‹ Behind a complete-game five hitter from Aaron Pribanic, the Nebraska baseball team extended its win streak to nine games with a 7-0 victory over Northern Colorado Monday afternoon.
Pribanic, the junior right-hander from Plano, Texas, tossed his second straight complete game, striking out seven without a walk and allowed just two runners to reach third in a 101-pitch gem. He became the first Husker pitcher to toss consecutive complete games since Aaron Marsden in March of 2003, and improved his record to 2-0 while lowering his ERA to 0.96 in 18.2 innings.
"I was really pleased with Aaron today," Nebraska Head Coach Mike Anderson said. "He's throwing 92-95 and locating his breaking ball. We knew he had some good velocity, and Eric (Newman) has done a great job of developing, and keeping his composure. I was more impressed with his composure in the ninth than in the first two or three (innings)."
While Pribanic was dealing, DJ Belfonte powered the Husker offense to its 10th win in 12 games, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored. The sophomore center fielder tripled in the third, singled in the sixth and belted his first career homer two innings later, a solo shot into the UNC bullpen off of Chad Murray.
Tyler Farst, Jake Mort and Craig Corriston also keyed NU's 12-hit attack, as Farst drove in a career-high three runs while Corriston and Mort enjoyed two-hit afternoons.
The Huskers scored all the runs they needed in the bottom of the second against Northern Colorado starter T.R. Keating. Bryce Nimmo led off the frame with a bunt single and moved to third on Nick Sullivan's double to right two batters later before Farst's slow roller to third allowed Nimmo to score.
The Huskers continued to chip away at Keating, scoring single runs in the third and fourth innings before chasing him in the sixth. Belfonte powered Nebraska to a 2-0 lead in the fourth, tripling to the gap in left center before an errant throw into the Husker dugout allowed him to score. Corriston opened the fourth with a double and eventually scored on Farst's sacrifice fly.
Nebraska threatened in the sixth, as Corriston doubled with one out before Sullivan was hit by a pitch, setting the stage for Ben Kline, who lined a two-out single to left to make it a 4-0 game. Matt Buck came in and gave up an infield single to Belfonte to load the bases before Jake Mort drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 5-0.
Keating (1-2) allowed five runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings to suffer his first loss in three decisions.
Farst drove in his third run in the seventh, a two-out RBI single to center, before Belfonte's solo homer in the eighth rounded out the scoring. The only drama was if Pribanic would finish his masterpiece, and that was answered in the affirmative, as he struck out the final two hitters for the complete game.
The Huskers wrap up the 10-game homestand at 1:35 p.m. Tuesday as they host South Dakota State.
Nimmo Named to Lowe's Senior Class Watch List
LINCOLN Nebraska center fielder Bryce Nimmo has been selected as one of 30 candidates for the 2008 Lowe's Senior Class Award on Monday.
Presented annually to NCAA Division I student-athletes in eight sports, the award focuses on the "Four C's" of classroom, character, community and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched in 2001 to honor the attributes of college basketball seniors who fulfill their entire athletic eligibility and pursue their degree. Since that time, Lowe's, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, has expanded the award to include other NCAA sports including baseball.
A three-year starter at center field, Nimmo is hitting .439 with a homer, nine RBIs and 14 runs scored in helping the Huskers to a 10-2 start entering Tuesday's game against South Dakota State. He leads the Huskers in runs scored and ranks second on the squad in hits (18), stolen bases (four), walks (eight) and on-base percentage (.531).
In addition to his success on the diamond, he is two-time academic All-Big 12 selection who carries a 3.51 GPA in finance. He has been named to the Big 12's Commissioner's Honor Roll in all seven semesters at Nebraska.
This marks the second year for the baseball division of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. University of Alabama infielder Emeel Salem was the inaugural winner in 2007. From the list of 30 nominees (complete list attached), a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in mid-April 2008. Those ten names will be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote that will include coaches, media and fans. The award winner will be announced and recognized at the 2008 NCAA Men's College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
Dorn Shares Big 12 Weekly Honor
Nebraska right-hander Johnny Dorn earned an honor as well on Monday, as he was chosen as the Big 12's Co-Pitcher of the Week. It is the third time the senior has received the conference's weekly award.
Dorn allowed just one earned run over seven innings, as the Huskers defeated Northern Colorado, 12-2 on March 8. He fanned a career-high 13 Bears, including the first seven hitters he faced, as his 13 strikeouts were the most by a Husker pitcher since Joba Chamberlain in 2005. On the season, Dorn is now 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA, striking out a Big 12-high 29 hitters over 20.2 innings of work.
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