Huskers rally late, top Minnesota 8-3 to win series
Nebraska (24-24, 11-13 Big Ten) used a pair of late-inning rallies to defeat Minnesota (22-24, 8-16) 8-3 and secure the rubber match on a picturesque Sunday afternoon at Haymarket Park.
Trailing 3-1 in the top of the seventh, Nebraska turned to lefty Grant Cleavinger with Gophers on second and third and one out. Cleavinger came up big, retiring back-to-back hitters to keep the Huskers within striking distance.
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The momentum carried into the bottom half of the inning. Riley Silva drew a leadoff walk, followed by a single up the middle from Robby Bollin. After a strikeout, Gabe Swansen ripped an RBI double down the third base line that Minnesota’s third baseman couldn’t handle, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
A passed ball during Tyler Stone’s at-bat allowed Bollin to score and tie the game. Stone then grounded to first, but a late tag at the plate allowed Swansen to slide in safely and give Nebraska a 4-3 lead.
Offense explodes in eighth to seal series win
Right-hander Drew Christo tossed a scoreless eighth inning to keep the momentum in Nebraska’s favor. The Huskers then broke things open in the bottom of the eighth with four runs on five hits.
Silva singled to start the inning, Bollin walked, and Brumbaugh added an infield single. Swansen followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3. Case Sanderson delivered a two-RBI double into right center, and Joshua Overbeek capped the frame with an RBI single up the middle.
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Lefty Jackson Brockett gave Nebraska a solid start, allowing two earned runs over 4.2 innings on five hits. Head coach Will Bolt praised Brockett’s ability to match zeroes with the Gophers early and keep the Huskers in it until the offense sparked.
The bullpen handled the remaining 4.1 innings, allowing just one earned run. Nebraska used six relievers: Casey Daiss, Colin Nowaczyk, Cleavinger, Pryce Bender, Christo and closer Luke Broderick, who tossed a scoreless ninth.
Offensively, the Huskers managed just four hits over the first five innings before Dylan Carey jump-started the attack with a solo homer to left in the sixth. Nebraska finished with 13 hits, including multi-hit efforts from Bollin, Brumbaugh, Swansen, Will Jesske and Overbeek.
The Huskers went 6-for-13 with two outs and 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Nebraska returns to action Tuesday night against Creighton at Haymarket Park. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT, with right-hander Tucker Timmerman the likely starter.
