Rolling Huskers finish sweep of Boston College

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BY CURT McKEEVER/Lincoln Journal Star

Joe Simokaitis, the guy that everyone on the Nebraska baseball wants to rub for luck, is about ready to declare the Huskers on a roll.

"Some things are starting to come together," the junior shortstop said Sunday after NU capped a 5-0 week by blasting Boston College 10-1 for the second time in three days. "The pitchers gave up four runs (in the series). We didn't have any errors all weekend. The offense is starting to come. Those are good signs."

Simokaitis improved his batting average to a team-high .410 by going 3-for-5 and driving in a career-high four runs. In the series, he went 8-for-12.

Nebraska banged out 13 hits and got four more RBIs from Alex Gordon, who broke a 1-1 tie in the third inning with a wind-blown three-run homer to right field. The sophomore third baseman, now hitting .407, tripled in a sixth-inning run by swinging at a pitch that was called a balk and ended up falling in when right fielder Joe Martinez lost track of it.

"When your pitchers are doing that well, it helps relax guys," Gordon said.

NU sophomore Phil Shirek pitched four-hit ball over six innings to improve his record to 3-0. Relievers Jeremey Becker, Dustin Tim and Mike Sillman then each threw a perfect inning to finish off the Eagles, who hit just .189 in the three games.

"Offensively, at some point they'll get it going. For us to do that over 27 innings is very impressive," pitching coach Rob Childress said.

Mike Anderson also lauded the pitching, but was more impressed by his team's stellar defense. Over the past six games, Nebraska has committed one error to improve its field percentage to .974.

"We went through the weekend without one error. I don't know the last time that happened," Anderson said.

Actually, in the Huskers' most recent three-game series against one team prior to this weekend - versus Baylor last year - they were just as perfect. Sunday, after their five-run outburst in the third, they would have been able to afford a couple.

After Boston College got three straight one-out singles by Ryan Morgan, Garrett Greer and Drew Locke to pull into a 1-1 tie, the Huskers went to work off Matt O'Donnell.

Jeremy Shockey, who scored in the first after leading the game off with a single, hit a ball up the middle that went off the glove of the shortstop Leahy, and hustled to second for a double. After he advanced on a passed ball, Daniel Bruce was hit by a pitch. Jake Mullinax struck out, but Gordon lofted O'Donnell's next pitch that a north wind carried just beyond the 342-foot sign in right.

"I was like, 'Wind, take that,' " said Gordon, smiling. "I'll take it, as long as it helps the team out."

NU then loaded the bases with two outs, when Beau Sullivan singled, John Grose was hit by a pitch and Chad Steele walked. Simokaitis then doubled to left to make it 6-1.

The Huskers went up 7-1 in the fifth on Simokaitis' RBI single, then continued the rout with two more runs in the sixth on Gordon's triple and a single by Sullivan.

"Offensively, we did what we needed to do," Anderson said. "I don't know if it's exciting baseball, but we're scoring some runs. - It is (exciting) to me."

Now 13-4, Nebraska will take today off before heading to Omaha for a 3 p.m. Tuesday contest against Creighton at the CU Sports Complex.

The Bluejays have won five of their last six to improve to 8-8.

Nebraska, however, will come in having won eight of its last nine.

"It's a perfect time to get rolling," Gordon said. "We've already started, hopefully we can continue it."

n Center fielder Jesse Boyer missed his third straight game with a tight hamstring muscle, but said he expects to play Tuesday.

n Left fielder Braden Keith left Sunday's contest after straining a hamstring during his second-inning at-bat.

Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@;journalstar.com.