2008 Woodie Awards
Defense propels Huskers to take series in Lawrence
Vince Kuppig ; Daily Nebraskan (U. Nebraska)
Issue date: 3/30/05 Section: Sports
(U-WIRE) LAWRENCE, Kan. - As Nebraska's baseball team lost series after series to end 2004, Brian Duensing was sidelined with an elbow injury.
On Sunday, NU's junior pitcher won the rubber match for the Cornhuskers (21-3, 2-1 Big 12), giving them a 2-1 series win at Kansas (21-10, 1-2).
After splitting a doubleheader Saturday, the Huskers were too much for the Jayhawks on the mound, at the plate and in the field in a 9-4 win in the series finale.
"Duensing was pretty darn good," said coach Mike Anderson, whose Huskers ended 2004 by losing seven straight Big 12 series. "That sure is nice having him on Sunday."
Duensing, who gave up three runs on six hits in 7.1 innings, got plenty of help from his defense. The Huskers made four diving catches -- from center fielder Bryce Nimmo, shortstop Joe Simokaitis, first baseman Curtis Ledbetter and third baseman Alex Gordon, and had a number of other nice plays.
"We made some spectacular plays today," said Anderson, whose Huskers completed three double plays. "We played solid defense, which is extremely encouraging. Now you put solid defense with a spectacular play or two and that's kind of neat."
Duensing called NU's defense on Sunday "unbelievable," after it extended a streak without an error to 61 innings before having an error in Saturday's first game.
KU coach Ritch Price had similar sentiments.
"They made about the six best plays you'll see in a college baseball game," Price said. "That had a lot to do with us not scoring. They played very well defensively. That's as good of a game defensively as you'll see."
With the help of his fielders, Duensing cruised through the first seven innings, allowing just one KU hitter to reach second. Until the eighth, he had given up just three singles -- two of which were infield hits, and hadn't walked anybody as the Huskers built a 7-0 lead.
In the eighth, he walked his first batter then gave up two doubles and a home run before being relieved.
On Sunday, NU's junior pitcher won the rubber match for the Cornhuskers (21-3, 2-1 Big 12), giving them a 2-1 series win at Kansas (21-10, 1-2).
After splitting a doubleheader Saturday, the Huskers were too much for the Jayhawks on the mound, at the plate and in the field in a 9-4 win in the series finale.
"Duensing was pretty darn good," said coach Mike Anderson, whose Huskers ended 2004 by losing seven straight Big 12 series. "That sure is nice having him on Sunday."
Duensing, who gave up three runs on six hits in 7.1 innings, got plenty of help from his defense. The Huskers made four diving catches -- from center fielder Bryce Nimmo, shortstop Joe Simokaitis, first baseman Curtis Ledbetter and third baseman Alex Gordon, and had a number of other nice plays.
"We made some spectacular plays today," said Anderson, whose Huskers completed three double plays. "We played solid defense, which is extremely encouraging. Now you put solid defense with a spectacular play or two and that's kind of neat."
Duensing called NU's defense on Sunday "unbelievable," after it extended a streak without an error to 61 innings before having an error in Saturday's first game.
KU coach Ritch Price had similar sentiments.
"They made about the six best plays you'll see in a college baseball game," Price said. "That had a lot to do with us not scoring. They played very well defensively. That's as good of a game defensively as you'll see."
With the help of his fielders, Duensing cruised through the first seven innings, allowing just one KU hitter to reach second. Until the eighth, he had given up just three singles -- two of which were infield hits, and hadn't walked anybody as the Huskers built a 7-0 lead.
In the eighth, he walked his first batter then gave up two doubles and a home run before being relieved.