Komine shuts out Rice, 7-0
Advertiser Staff and News Services
 |
| Nebraska's Shane Komine gave his father a belated birthday gift with his performance yesterday.
Associated Press |
Komine, a 1998 Kalani High graduate, struck out 12 and walked three for his sixth complete game of the season. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound right-hander improved to 14-1, with the 14 wins coming in succession to break a school record. His accomplishments came before a Buck Beltzer Stadium record crowd of 5,353, which included his father, Gerald Komine, whose birthday was Thursday.
"This was the perfect birthday present for him," said Komine in a telephone interview from Lincoln.
The Big 12 champion Cornhuskers (49-14) are a game away from clinching a College World Series berth in the best-of-three series. But the Western Athletic Conference champion Owls (47-19) still have their ace available in WAC pitcher of the year Kenny Baugh, who starts today.
Komine was on his game against the Owls, one of the better hitting teams in the WAC.
"I wanted to keep them off-balance," he said. "I used a lot of off-speed pitches on fastball counts to throw them off."
At one juncture, Komine retired 13 consecutive Owls before third baseman Jeff Blevins' throwing error with two outs in the seventh inning.
Komine endured a 51-minute rain/lightening delay by throwing in the bullpen. "That helped keep me from getting tight," he said.
Komine struck out seven of the first nine batters after the delay.
Unlike Komine, Owls' starter Jon Skaggs (9-4), a 6-5, 225-pound right-hander and an all-WAC first team pick, was wild, allowing a season-high nine walks while throwing three wild pitches. The Cornhuskers also pressured him with a season-high six stolen bases. In all, Skaggs allowed seven runs (six earned) and seven hits with four strikeouts in 7Á innings.
"Any time your offense gives you the runs, it takes the pressure off the pitcher," Komine said.
John Cole led the Cornhuskers with three RBIs, while Matt Hopper was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
A.J. Porfirio, Matt Cunningham and Phillip Ghutzman had hits for Rice.
OTHER SUPER REGIONALS
• Miami 10, Clemson 8: Mike DiRosa drove in two runs in the seventh inning as Miami beat Clemson at Coral Gables, Fla., and extended its winning streak to 12 games.
Game 2 of the best-of-three series will be played today. A third game, if necessary, would be played tomorrow.
Charlton Jimerson had two doubles and three RBIs for Miami, which has won 15 straight regional and super regional games played in Coral Gables. Dan Smith (5-0) earned the win and George Huguet earned his 13th save.
Michael Johnson homered for Clemson.
• Stanford 11, South Carolina 1: Ryan Garko had three hits, including a home run, to lead Stanford past South Carolina at Stanford, Calif.
Chris O'Riordan also homered for the Cardinal (47-15), who moved within a victory of reaching the College World Series for the third straight season. Carlos Quentin matched his career high with four hits
Game 2 of the best-of-three series is today. A third game, if necessary, would be played tomorrow.
South Carolina's Kip Bouknight (10-4) had his worst outing of the season. He allowed eight runs on 11 hits in three-plus innings with a walk and a strikeout.
• USC 5, Florida International 1: Mark Prior scattered seven hits and struck out nine in a complete-game effort as Southern California beat Florida International at Los Angeles.
Prior (14-1), who did not walk a batter, allowed a first-inning run on Hector Nunez's RBI single.
The Trojans (43-17) scored four runs in the fifth, highlighted by Anthony Lunetta's three-run home run. Abel Montanez had a solo home run in the inning. Lunetta drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth for his fourth RBI of the game.
Paul Zervas (7-4) pitched 4‡ innings for the Golden Panthers (43-20), giving up eight hits and four runs.
• LSU 4, Tulane 3: David Raymer's sacrifice fly scored Matt Heath in the 13th inning and sent LSU past Tulane at Metairie, La.
The victory moved LSU within one game of its 12th trip to the College World Series, where the Tigers would try to give retiring coach Skip Bertman his sixth national title in the past 11 years.
LSU freshman Lane Mestepey pitched 10 innings, but did not figure in the decision. Brian Wilson (3-2) worked three innings and earned the win. Mike Fontenot hit a two-run homer in the first inning for the Tigers.
Michael Aubrey, Tulane's starting pitcher who moved to designated hitter in the sixth inning, drove in two runs. Jake Gautreau also drove in a run for the Green Wave (53-11).
• Cal St. Fullerton 13, Mississippi State 2: Mike Rouse hit three homers and drove in seven runs to lead Cal State Fullerton past Mississippi State at Fullerton, Calif.
The top-seeded Titans (45-16) can advance to the College World Series by beating the Bulldogs (39-23) today.
Rouse hit two home runs — a solo shot and three-run blast — in Fullerton's eight-run second inning. He added a solo homer in the fourth inning and a two-run double in the seventh to finish 4-for-5.
Kirk Saarloos (15-2) scattered four hits and struck out nine in seven innings for his 15th straight win.
• Tennessee-East Carolina: Rain and lightening forced the postponement of the game between Tennessee and East Carolina at Kinston, N.C.
The game will be played today, with the second game tomorrow and the third game, if necessary, Monday.
• Florida State-Georgia: Rain forced the postponement of the game between Florida State and Georgia at Athens, Ga.
The game will be played today, with the second game tomorrow and the third game, if necessary, Monday.
