University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Nebraska
DeLeon Gets Complete-Game Win over Gophers
4/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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April 12, 2014
Bobby Juan's home run put the University of Minnesota (17-13, 5-6 Big Ten) baseball team ahead 1-0 early, but a three-run fourth inning and a complete game by Christian DeLeon gave Nebraska a 5-2 win. The Cornhuskers (22-14, 6-2 Big Ten) have won the first two games of the series at Siebert Field.
Juan launched a solo home run over the right field fence to give Minnesota a lead in the second inning. It was the right fielder's second home run of the season, and his first in Big Ten play.
Nebraska's leadoff batter reached base in the first three innings, but starter Jordan Jess and the Gophers' defense kept the Cornhuskers off the scoreboard until the fourth.
Michael Pritchard and Pat Kelly drew back-to-back walks to start the inning and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Tanner Lubach. Austin Darby's sacrifice fly scored Pritchard. After Ty Killdow walked and stole second, Blake Headley's single to center scored Kelly and Killdow to give Nebraska a 3-1 lead.
Reliever Neal Kunik then held Nebraska scoreless until the ninth. Steven Reveles walked and scored on a double by Ryan Boldt. Boldt then scored on a single by Jake Placzek to make it 5-1.
Center fielder Jordan Smith hit a double to left with one out in the bottom of the ninth, extending his on base streak to 18 games. First baseman Dan Olinger hit a double to right with two outs to plate Smith and make it 5-2 before the Huskers got the final out. Olinger hit 2-for-4 on the afternoon.
It was the second complete-game win in a row for DeLeon (4-2), who beat Ohio State last weekend. The right-hander gave up only four hits and two walks and struck out four. Left-hander Jess (0-6) took the loss for Minnesota. He gave up three runs on three hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings.
The Gophers and Cornhuskers will conclude the series with a 2:05 p.m. game Sunday. The game will be televised on BTN.
