• Box Scores: NU 10, Houston Baptist 2 • NU 8, Houston Baptist 0

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LINCOLN — A pitcher stole the show on an afternoon when the Nebraska baseball team slugged six home runs in the 16 innings at Haymarket Park, more than doubling its output for the season.

Junior Michael Mariot fired a complete-game one-hitter — the first by a Husker since Zach Kroenke in 2004 — as NU swept a doubleheader Saturday from Houston Baptist, 10-2 and 8-0, before a crowd of 1,879.

Mariot, a right-hander from Southlake, Texas, needed just 95 pitches in the nightcap to finish the Huskies.

“All I had to do was hit the glove and let the hitters get themselves out,” Mariot said.

He allowed only Jake Gonzalez’s sharply struck single to right field to lead off the third inning. Mariot faced just one batter over the minimum as the Huskers (6-7) erased his first- and ninth-inning walks with double plays.

NU broke it open in the third with four runs on homers by DJ Belfonte, Adam Bailey and Cody Asche off left-handed starting pitcher Jamie Storey. It marked the Huskers’ first three-homer inning since a 2007 win over Missouri.

Bailey’s fourth home run, with a gusty north breeze adding fuel, cleared the right-field bullpen and two more fences to reach the parking lot, 400-plus feet from home plate.

NU had homered four times in 11 games before Saturday.

The Huskers have won three straight at home after a 3-7 start on the road. Nebraska struck out six times Saturday after fanning 44 times last week in three losses at UCLA — including a school-record 19 in the series finale.

Coach Mike Anderson said he was proud of the Huskers’ approach at the plate. Belfonte, Asche and freshman Chad Christensen, who hit a pinch-hit homer in the seventh inning of the second game, all connected with two strikes.

“They were disciplined at-bats,” Anderson said. “They weren’t trying to do that. That’s a good sign.”

Asche said he simply hit a mistake.

“I don’t think he wanted to throw an 0-2 fastball down the middle,” the sophomore third baseman said.

Asche and Bailey also homered in the opener as NU starter Casey Hauptman allowed two runs on five hits and struck out eight in seven innings.

The pitching also pleased Anderson, especially the work of Mariot. With Big 12 play to open next weekend at Texas, Mariot was likely pitching for his spot in the weekend rotation after struggling to start the season, Anderson said.

“Michael was great because of his intent and rhythm and pace,” the coach said. “That’s the best outing he’s had because of his determination. You could see it on his face and in his actions. He had a purpose.”

NU and Houston Baptist (4-8) wrap their series Sunday at 1:05 p.m., with freshman Tom Lemke to pitch.

Contact the writer:

402-444-1031, mitch.sherman@owh.com

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