Nebraska baseball rallies to defeat Minnesota in walk-off fashion

Nebraska baseball (23-24, 10-13) won in walk-off fashion on Saturday, defeating Minnesota 5-4 after climbing back from an early 3-0 deficit. Robby Bolin was the hero, ripping an RBI single with the bases loaded in the ninth.

“It’s pretty fun to watch,” head coach Will Bolt said postgame. “That’s why we play the game, is to have moments like that.”

Ty Horn (6.31 ERA) posted a strong start, tossing six innings and striking out six. The right-hander gave up four runs on seven hits, including a two-run shot in the third. Tucker Timmerman pitched the final three innings in relief, keeping Minnesota off the scoreboard and earning the win.

Bolin led the way at the plate with two hits and two RBIs. Tyler Stone kept the Huskers alive in the fourth inning with a three-run blast to tie the game.

“It’s a big momentum booster,” Bolin said of the walk-off win. “A big team morale thing. We’re all pulling for each other, we’re all behind each other and we have a lot of unwavering faith in each other. Anytime that situation comes up, any one of us can get the job done.”

Here is a recap of the victory:

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Gophers jump out to early lead

Minnesota cashed in on a run of good fortune to take a quick 3-0 lead.

In the top of the second, the Gophers tallied three straight hits, including two well-placed bloopers that found a gap. Jake Perry scored the game’s first run with an RBI single that dropped in shallow right.

Nebraska was lucky to escape the second frame trailing just 1-0. Catcher Hogan Helligso limited the damage by tagging a runner out at home.

Minnesota kept it rolling in the third. With one on and two outs, Horn nearly picked off Easton Richter at first but he slid back to the bag just in time. Drew Berkland made Nebraska pay with a two-run shot to left, extending the lead to 3-0.

Horn wasn’t rattled, though. He responded by retiring nine straight Gopher hitters including a run of four consecutive strikeouts.

“His opponent batting average just keeps going down because he’s mixing in other pitches,” Bolt said of Horn. “He’s throwing 3-2 changeups, 3-2 sliders. I thought the fastball command was pretty good today so the no walks is great to see.”

Stone gives Nebraska new life

Tyler Stone tied the game with one swing of his bat.

In the bottom of the fourth, Cayden Brumbaugh reached on a fielding error to lead off the frame before Gabe Swansen singled. Stone stepped to the plate and crushed a homer 412 feet to right center.

“That’s what you want from a guy in the middle of the order,” Bolt said of Stone. “If he’s going to get a hit, make it count, drive in a run. He did that last night with the big two-strike hit, and today, we just can’t really catch much of a break and he just put one out of the park.

“A couple big swings by him. He’s a run producer that’s why he’s there.”

The Huskers took their first lead of the weekend in the fifth. Devin Nunez walked to lead off the inning before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. Bolin capitalized by ripping an RBI double down the left-field line. His first hit of the day put the Huskers ahead 4-3.

Bolin’s heroics

After Minnesota tied the game 4-4 in the sixth, both sides struggled to find any rhythm at the plate. The Gophers utilized four bullpen arms that also pitched on Friday night, shoving their chips to the middle of the table.

For Nebraska, Timmerman relieved Horn and sat down the first five batters he faced. He walked one and gave up a single in the eighth, but escaped a jam with runners at the corners on a crucial groundout.

“I missed 10 weeks, so just getting back out here, I want every inning I can just to be for my guys,” Timmerman said. “I missed out on multiple trips, couldn’t be with the guys and that was tough. You just want to be there to support all the guys and be the best teammate possible.”

The Huskers finally broke through in the bottom of the ninth. Dylan Carey drew a leadoff walk before Will Jesske hit a pinch-hit single through the left side. Helligso was hit by a pitch on the next at-bat to load the bases for Bolin.

On an 0-2 pitch, the self-proclaimed “ground ball guy” smacked one past a diving first baseman, bringing Carey home and sending the crowd into a frenzy.

“I just saw a fastball in, something I can get my hands to and just get the barrel on it,” Bolin said. “Just make a swing for our team and just kind of do something in that moment.”

A dog pile in center field ensued as the Huskers walked it off for the second time in five days.

“We got some practice this week. A couple days in a row of loading the bases with a chance to win the game,” Bolt said. “They were ready for that one, I think. Everybody felt confident that Robby was going to find a way to put the ball in play.”

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