March 31, 2000

WACO, Texas - With two of the best pitchers in the Big 12 on the mound Friday night in Waco, fans came expecting a pitching duel. Baylor and Nebraska did not disappoint, as the Bears held off the Huskers 4-2.

Chad Hawkins (5-4) threw 7.1 innings, striking out seven and allowing just three hits and two runs (one earned). He did walk an uncharacteristically-high five batters, but he was able to successfully pitch around the walks and earn the win.

The Bears (22-10, 8-5 in Big 12 play) knocked out Nebraska starter Shane Komine (4-3) in 4.2 innings, his shortest outing of the year. Baylor scored first, pushing across a run in the second when Mike Huggins doubled with one out and Matt Williams followed with an RBI single.

Nebraska tied the score in the top of the fifth. Adam Stern led off with a single, stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice squeeze bunt.

The Bears responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead for good. Huggins again got the scoring going with a leadoff single. He moved to second when Williams was hit by a pitch. Preston Underdown pulled the infield in by showing bunt, then slashed away and pulled a double down the left field line to drive in Huggins. Tim Hartshorn followed three batters later with a sacrifice fly to put Baylor up 3-1.

Nebraska scored again in the sixth to cut the lead to one. When Hawkins allowed a single and a walk with one out in the eighth, Baylor head coach Steve Smith brought in Zane Carlson. Carlson struck out the first batter he faced, and Shoppach threw out Shabala trying to steal to end the inning on the double play.

Baylor added a run in the bottom of the eighth, and Carlson struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth for his seventh save of the series.

The Bears and Huskers face off again Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Baylor Ballpark in game two of the season.