March 8, 2002
Box Score
WACO, Texas - The Baylor pitching faltered and the 14th-ranked Bears lost their first home game of the year Friday night, falling 15-4 to No. 8 Nebraska at Baylor Ballpark.
Nebraska (8-3, 1-0 Big 12) scored two in the first off Baylor starter Justin Taylor (3-1), and with all-American Shane Komine (3-0) on the mound, it looked like the Huskers were in good shape. Baylor (10-6, 2-2 Big 12) momentarily negated that theory when the Bears scored a pair of their own in the second. Steve Dorneman drove in Michael Griffin with a bunt single for the first run, and Eric Errante followed with a ground-out RBI to tie the game.
The Huskers, however, continued to pour it on against Taylor. Nebraska scored four runs in the fourth inning, with three of those runs being unearned after an error by Baylor third baseman Michael Griffin. Nebraska led after four innings, 6-2.
Taylor gave up three straight hits to start the sixth before being relieved by Jay Lockett. Lockett fared no better, as the Huskers batted around in the inning before Baylor could record an out. In all, Nebraska scored eight times in the frame, effectively putting away the game.
The Huskers would add a single run in the seventh, while the Bears scored single runs in the seventh and ninth innings to make the final tally 15-4. Cody Hall closed out the game for Baylor with 2 1/3 shutout innings.
Komine went seven innings, striking out seven and walking a pair. The three runs and seven hits he gave up matched his season totals in three starts coming into the game, but he pitched well enough to pick up his 14th-straight conference win.
Chris Durbin was the lone bright spot for the Bears. The junior centerfielder went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a his first home run of the year, a shot that cleared the Baylor soccer scoreboard beyond the left field fence. Durbin scored three times and drove in one run.
Nebraska centerfielder Jeff Leise went 3-for-5 with two home runs, including a shot to right on the second pitch of the game. Rightfielder Drew Anderson had four hits, three runs scored and three RBI for the men in red. Four other Huskers had two hits apiece as the visitors pounded out 19 hits on the night.
The Bears and Huskers meet again Saturday at 3 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark in game two of the series. The three-game set concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.
