Cats Drop Second Straight to Huskers

LINCOLN, Neb. – Kansas State got a solid outing from starting pitcher Trevor Hurley, but two big two-out hits from Nebraska proved to be the difference as the Huskers clinched the series with a 6-3 win Saturday afternoon at Hawks Field. With the loss, Kansas State fell to 26-17 overall and 6-11 in league play, while Nebraska moved to 25-17 overall and 10-10 in Big 12 play.

Hurley (1-2) earned his first career Big 12 start on Saturday and was very solid through four-plus innings. The sophomore scattered four hits through 4.2 innings with the big blow coming on Andrew Brown’s two-out, three-run homer in the fourth, which broke a scoreless tie and gave the Huskers a 3-0 lead.

The Cats clawed back to within one at 3-2 with two runs in the top of the sixth off Husker starter Johnny Dorn. After a one-out single from Paul McCoy, Drew Biery drew a two-out walk and consecutive hits from Byron Wiley, Nate Tenbrink and Tyler Ruch plated two runs for the Wildcats.

But, the Huskers answered with three more runs in the bottom of the sixth as a two-out double from Mitch Abeita and a single from D.J. Belfonte opened up the Husker lead to 6-2.

Kansas State pushed across a run in the top of the ninth on Ruch’s double off the wall in center scored Wiley to cut the deficit to 6-3. But, Jordan Cruz struck out swinging to end the game.

Dorn (7-2) earned the win after scattering six hits over 6.0 innings and allowing two runs with four strikeouts, while Steve Edlefsen and Thad Weber struck out four over the final 3.0 innings.

Ben Hornbeck tossed 2.0 shutout innings of relief for the Wildcats in his first relief appearance of the season. Tenbrink and Ruch each had two hits to lead the K-State offense.

The two teams will conclude the three-game series with a 1:05 p.m. contest Sunday at Hawks Field as the Cats try and salvage the final game of the three-game series.

– k-statesports.com –