Cornhuskers earn 50-mile trip to CWS

Alex Gordon, Joe Simokaitis and Ryan Bohanan homered and freshman Johnny Dorn pitched 6 1/3 solid innings as Nebraska earned a trip to College World Series for the third time in five years with a 6-3 victory over Miami on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.

The Cornhuskers (56-13), who won the best-of-three NCAA Super Regional 2-0, return to the World Series — 50 miles away in Omaha — after making consecutive appearances in 2001-02. The Hurricanes (41-19-1) will miss the CWS for the first time since 2002 and only the fourth time since 1993.

Dorn (12-1) allowed five hits before Brian Duensing relieved in the seventh, and Brett Jensen worked the last 1 2-3 innings for his 15th save.

The Huskers jumped on Miami starter Brandon Camardese (6-1) right away. Simokaitis singled with out one in the first before Gordon — in a 3-for-13 mini slump in the NCAA tournament — drove the ball off the light pole beyond the fence in left-center field for his 19th home run of the season.

It was the first homer in seven games for Gordon, a two-time Big 12 player of the year and the second pick overall by the Kansas City Royals in the baseball draft earlier this week.

Simokaitis hit only his fifth homer in 235 career games leading off the third for a 3-0 lead. The Huskers were up 5-0 after Ryan Bohanan's bases-loaded double.

The Huskers will open the CWS on Friday against the winner of the super regional between Cal State-Fullerton and Arizona State.

CLEMSON 4, BAYLOR 2: At Waco, Texas, Stan Widmann hit a two-run single in the seventh to lead Clemson in the opener of its NCAA Super Regional.

Jeff Hahn (4-1) pitched two innings of shutout relief to earn the win, and Robert Rohrbaugh picked up the save.

In the seventh, Clemson (43-21) loaded the bases with no outs against Baylor (42-22) starter Trey Taylor (7-6).

Kris Harvey and Travis Storrer singled, and Andy D'Alessio reached when Zach Dillon threw late to third on D'Alessio's bunt. Abe Woody relieved for the Bears, and Widmann hit his first pitch into right field for a two-run single, giving Clemson a 3-2 margin.

The Tigers added a run in the eighth.

Game 2 of the best-of three series is today.

RICE 9, TULANE 5: At New Orleans, Josh Rodriguez had four hits, two RBIs and three runs scored to help Rice take the first game of its series against national top seed Tulane.