Kroenke shuts downBoston College bats
Zach Kroenke had too much magic working in his left hand to be bothered by a 30 mph wind that blew out to left field or a Boston College lineup that featured eight right-handed hitters.
The sophomore worked a machine-like 71/3 innings, allowing just three hits and one run, to fuel the 21st-ranked Huskers to a 10-1 victory in the opener of a three-game series at Haymarket Park.
"My command was pretty good today," said Kroenke, who got his first decision in his last three outings to improve to 3-0. "Fastballs, I was able to put pretty much where I wanted for the first four, five innings. And then I started throwing the slider a lot more in the third, fourth to get them on their back leg."
While lowering his earned run average to 2.48, Kroenke retired 14 straight from the second through seventh innings. He left in the eighth after giving up a walk and a hit, and Boston College finally broke through to end a 20-inning scoreless stretch by Nebraska starting pitchers.
It mattered little to NU coach Mike Anderson.
"Zach was great," he said. "Our whole key is getting him to the eighth, ninth innings. It sets us up for the entire series. Then, our No. 1 reliever can come out of the pen on Saturday, which changes our whole scope for the series."
Kroenke's effectiveness also allowed for junior Colin Shockey to make his pitching debut. The starting center fielder, who reached base five times, scored three runs and drove in two more while leading off for the first time this season, retired all three batters he faced in the ninth.
"It's a great opportunity for me to do a whole lot of things," said Shockey, who is the first Husker since Alvie Shepherd, a first-round draft pick in 1995, to pitch and play in the regular lineup.
Shockey seemed more impressed with Nebraska's offense.
The Huskers had surprisingly little trouble dealing with left-handed junior Kevin Shepard, who entered the contest with a 2.50 ERA after allowing just five earned runs and 16 hits over 18 innings of his first three starts.
On Friday, Shepard lasted just four innings, as he surrendered seven hits, walked five and hit a batter while being tagged for eight runs.
"That guy was a really good pitcher," Shockey said. "We (just) did what we needed to do."
Nebraska gave Kroenke all the run support he would need by scoring twice in the first inning.
With two outs, Shockey, who had drawn a leadoff walk, was on third, and Alex Gordon was at first. Shepard then threw a wild pitch that let Shockey score, and Curtis Ledbetter followed with an RBI single.
Nebraska got three runs each in the second and third innings.
In the second, Daniel Bruce lined a 3-1 pitch to left for a two-run single. With the bases loaded, Gordon made it 5-0 with a sacrifice fly to left.
In the third, freshman designated hitter Al Smith got the first hit of his career by smashing a leadoff homer to the deepest part of the park, in center just right of the 403-foot sign. Shockey also laced a two-run double down the left-field line.
"I couldn't throw a lot of my off-speed stuff for strikes early, and had to go with fastballs," Shepard said. "They're good hitters, they knew what was coming.
"That's the worst I've thrown this season, but they hit the ball well."
Anderson agreed.
"I told the hitters this is our best day, offensively, simply because of the counts we were in and (having) a good two-strike approach."
The teams continue their series with a 2:05 p.m. game today. Boston College will throw Chris Lambert, a right-hander who Baseball America projects as a first-round draft choice and ranks as the 11th-best junior. The Huskers will counter with right-handed senior Quinton Robertson, an All-Big 12 Conference selection last season.
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@;journalstar.com.
The sophomore worked a machine-like 71/3 innings, allowing just three hits and one run, to fuel the 21st-ranked Huskers to a 10-1 victory in the opener of a three-game series at Haymarket Park.
"My command was pretty good today," said Kroenke, who got his first decision in his last three outings to improve to 3-0. "Fastballs, I was able to put pretty much where I wanted for the first four, five innings. And then I started throwing the slider a lot more in the third, fourth to get them on their back leg."
While lowering his earned run average to 2.48, Kroenke retired 14 straight from the second through seventh innings. He left in the eighth after giving up a walk and a hit, and Boston College finally broke through to end a 20-inning scoreless stretch by Nebraska starting pitchers.
It mattered little to NU coach Mike Anderson.
"Zach was great," he said. "Our whole key is getting him to the eighth, ninth innings. It sets us up for the entire series. Then, our No. 1 reliever can come out of the pen on Saturday, which changes our whole scope for the series."
Kroenke's effectiveness also allowed for junior Colin Shockey to make his pitching debut. The starting center fielder, who reached base five times, scored three runs and drove in two more while leading off for the first time this season, retired all three batters he faced in the ninth.
"It's a great opportunity for me to do a whole lot of things," said Shockey, who is the first Husker since Alvie Shepherd, a first-round draft pick in 1995, to pitch and play in the regular lineup.
Shockey seemed more impressed with Nebraska's offense.
The Huskers had surprisingly little trouble dealing with left-handed junior Kevin Shepard, who entered the contest with a 2.50 ERA after allowing just five earned runs and 16 hits over 18 innings of his first three starts.
On Friday, Shepard lasted just four innings, as he surrendered seven hits, walked five and hit a batter while being tagged for eight runs.
"That guy was a really good pitcher," Shockey said. "We (just) did what we needed to do."
Nebraska gave Kroenke all the run support he would need by scoring twice in the first inning.
With two outs, Shockey, who had drawn a leadoff walk, was on third, and Alex Gordon was at first. Shepard then threw a wild pitch that let Shockey score, and Curtis Ledbetter followed with an RBI single.
Nebraska got three runs each in the second and third innings.
In the second, Daniel Bruce lined a 3-1 pitch to left for a two-run single. With the bases loaded, Gordon made it 5-0 with a sacrifice fly to left.
In the third, freshman designated hitter Al Smith got the first hit of his career by smashing a leadoff homer to the deepest part of the park, in center just right of the 403-foot sign. Shockey also laced a two-run double down the left-field line.
"I couldn't throw a lot of my off-speed stuff for strikes early, and had to go with fastballs," Shepard said. "They're good hitters, they knew what was coming.
"That's the worst I've thrown this season, but they hit the ball well."
Anderson agreed.
"I told the hitters this is our best day, offensively, simply because of the counts we were in and (having) a good two-strike approach."
The teams continue their series with a 2:05 p.m. game today. Boston College will throw Chris Lambert, a right-hander who Baseball America projects as a first-round draft choice and ranks as the 11th-best junior. The Huskers will counter with right-handed senior Quinton Robertson, an All-Big 12 Conference selection last season.
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@;journalstar.com.
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