April 24, 2005

Box Score

LINCOLN, Neb. - Back-to-back home runs by Alex Gordon and Curtis Ledbetter provided the difference Sunday as No. 8 Baylor dropped a 4-3 decision at No. 11 Nebraska in Sunday's series finale at Haymarket Park. The Bears (27-16, 13-5) suffer only their second series defeat of the season with the loss, dropping two of three games to the Huskers (34-8, 10-5).

Baylor led 3-2 entering the bottom of the fifth. After a Joe Simokaitis fly out to deep right-center, Gordon hit the first pitch of his at bat into the Bears' bullpen beyond the right-field fence. Baylor right fielder Mike Pankratz had a play on the ball and nearly robbed Gordon of a homer; however, the ball hit off Pankratz' glove for the tying run. Ledbetter then homered on the first pitch of his at bat, giving Nebraska 4-3 lead.

Meanwhile, Nebraska reliever Johnny Dorn handcuffed the Bears' bats through the middle innings. After Baylor chased Huskers' starter Brian Duensing from the game in the third inning, Dorn (6-1) held the Bears scoreless on just three hits over the final 7.0 innings.

The Bears took an early lead thanks to a Kevin Sevigny two-run single in the top of the second. Zach Dillon stretched Baylor's lead to 3-0 in the third with a two-out RBI single. Nebraska pulled to within a run in the bottom of the fourth on a Jeff Christy two-out, two-run double down the line in left.

Baylor starter Cory VanAllen (6-3) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 6.0 innings. The loss snapped a streak of four consecutive victories for VanAllen, spanning his previous six starts.

Duensing allowed three runs on three hits and a walk with one strikeout in 2.0-plus innings, facing one batter in the third.

Baylor returns to action Tuesday, April 26, hosting Texas-Arlington for a 6 p.m. CDT first pitch at Baylor Ballpark. The Mavericks won each of the first two meetings this season, winning 9-6 at Baylor Ballpark in February and 2-0 two weeks ago at Arlington.