Huskers fall at Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The longer Nebraska clung to its 1-0 lead against Missouri ace pitcher Aaron Crow in front of the largest regular-season crowd ever at Taylor Field Friday night, the more Jake Mort wished the fifth-ranked Huskers could put a little bit more pressure on the No. 12 Tigers than just his first-inning swing that produced his first career homer.
Having once played select ball with the Tigers’ 95 mph-throwing right-hander from Wakarusa, Kan., Mort figured it might take a 1-0 result for NU to win the series opener.
Of course, since those types of results happen about as often as he deposits a ball over the outfield wall, it wasn’t a real comforting thought.
“It’s one of those things where we had opportunities early in the game and against him you’ve got to make the most of those,” Mort said after Crow shut down Nebraska long enough for the Tigers to finally tie the game in the seventh inning and then break things open in the eighth en route to an 8-1 triumph. “We just needed to keep putting pressure on them. They’re a very good ball club, especially with him on the mound.”
With Crow, Mizzou might be the best in the country.
By throwing no-hit ball over his last 62/3 innings, Crow notched his school-record and nation-best 12th victory of the season against no losses.
“I always feel like I get stronger as the game goes on,” said Crow, who settled down after allowing four hits and a sacrifice bunt to the first eight batters. “I started getting my fastball down and stayed low in the zone. I was up the first couple innings and they were able to hit their pitches out.”
Mort’s homer on a 1-1 pitch to the gap in left-center that landed just behind the grasp of center fielder Ryan Lollis, put Johnny Dorn in the driver’s seat in this pitching duel.
But Dorn, who was left with his fourth straight no-decision, eventually got into a situation that reliever Dan Jennings couldn’t get him out of. And then the wheels came off, as NU lost for only the third time in 34 games that it held a lead after six innings.
Jennings — who gave up an RBI infield single to Lollis with two outs in the seventh, but escaped further damage when Kyle Mach was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second — wasn’t nearly so fortunate in the eighth.
He was pulled after giving up two singles and a walk to start the inning, and Jonah Schmidt then delivered a sacrifice fly off Mike Nesseth to put the Tigers up 2-1. Steve Gray then lined Nesseth’s next delivery to the gap in left-center field for a two-run double.
Before the Huskers could end it, Zach Herr had hit a batter with the bases loaded and given up a three-run double to Aaron Senne.
“We didn’t get ahead. We couldn’t put guys away. Some of those things are competitive things,” said frustrated NU pitching coach Eric Newman. “They’re too good of a team to keep falling behind and not think that you’re going to get hurt.
“To be honest, I felt like we gave in a lot, and that’s too bad.”
Nebraska (39-10-1) remained mathematically alive for the Big 12 Conference regular-season championship, but only because first-place Texas A&M also lost to Texas. Now, the Huskers’ chance for the title hinges on them winning the final two games here (against an opponent that’s 21-5 at home) and the Aggies being swept by the Longhorns.
Briefly: Catcher Mitch Abeita has been named one of 12 semifinalists for the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award. The award is presented to the nation's top collegiate catcher, as voted on by the national voting committee which is comprised of sportswriters, sportscasters, Division I coaches and scouts.
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
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