Ninth-inning heroics lift Nebraska baseball to win over USC
Nebraska baseball (10-12, 2-6) clawed back late to defeat USC (13-9, 3-5) on Saturday, 6-5. Down to their final strike, the Huskers came up clutch in the ninth inning to secure a much-needed Big Ten win.
Right-hander Ty Horn (7.54 ERA) started on the mound and bounced back from consecutive blowout losses. He pitched five strong frames, only allowing two runs and scattering four hits.
Devin Nunez was the hero in the top of the ninth, smacking a go-ahead 2-RBI single with two outs on a full count. Right-handed reliever Luke Broderick pitched the final 2.1 frames, earning the win and stamping out a USC rally. He fanned three and only gave up one hit.
Here is a recap of the victory:
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Horn avoids early collapse
Horn has been on the wrong end of multiple crooked innings this season, particularly early in his starts. Saturday’s outing could have easily devolved into a similar situation.
Horn walked the leadoff batter before Ethan Hedges singled through the left side. After a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, the right-hander faced two Trojans in scoring position with just one out. Kevin Takeuchi hit a blooper RBI single to left, but Nebraska avoided any further damage in the first inning.
Hedges was tagged out heading home on a fielder’s choice before a groundout stranded two Trojans.
Hedges and Takeuchi kept their hot start rolling in the third. The former singled to center before stealing second. With two outs, Takeuchi smacked his second RBI single of the day to bring Hedges home and put USC up 2-0.
Horn was stellar from there on out, however, retiring seven straight. He fanned three consecutive batters before being relieved in the sixth.
Fortunate error gifts Nebraska lead
The Huskers couldn’t find any offensive rhythm early. Trojan right-hander Caden Aoki (4.23 ERA) needed just 26 pitches to retire the first 10 batters.
Nunez finally broke through in the fourth inning with a single to center. Cayden Brumbaugh followed with a single of his own, advancing Nunez to third base. After Tyler Stone fouled out on a 3-1 pitch, Dylan Carey stepped to the plate with two gone.
Nebraska seemingly squandered the scoring opportunity, as Carey skied a routine fly ball to center. However, centerfielder Brayden Dowd lost it in the sun, allowing a 2-RBI double to drop to the turf.
With new life, the Huskers kept things rolling at the plate. Case Sanderson was hit by a pitch before Joshua Overbeek smacked a 2-RBI double down the right-field line. The fielding error allowed Nebraska to build a 4-2 lead, its first of the weekend.
USC rallies with two outs
Right-hander Carson Jasa relieved Horn in the sixth, but after quickly recording two outs, the Trojans began to tee off on him.
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Dean Carpentier singled to left and advanced all the way to third when Jasa threw a pickoff attempt to an unattended first base bag. The error sparked a 2-out Trojan rally. Five straight USC batters reached base without a single hit leaving the infield.
Jasa was pulled before the inning ended. In just 0.2 frames, he gave up three runs on two hits, while also walking a batter and hitting another. Left-hander Caleb Clark fared no better, giving up a 2-RBI infield single that bounced off of Brumbaugh’s chest. The Trojans took a 5-4 lead after six innings.
Nunez comes up clutch in wacky ninth inning
Nebraska went cold at the plate after the fourth inning and appeared destined for another close loss. But in the ninth inning, the Huskers snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
Case Sanderson drew a full-count walk to lead off the frame, but two straight outs put Nebraska on the ropes. Cael Frost made the most of a pinch-hit opportunity with an infield single before an intentional walk loaded the bases.
With two outs, two strikes and the bases loaded, Nunez came up clutch with a 2-RBI single. Brumbaugh nearly added an insurance run with another infield single, but was called out at first base after review.
Broderick found himself in a jam as the Trojans plated their first two hitters in the bottom of the ninth. However, an infield-fly rule double play ended the game as Nebraska improved to 2-6 in conference play.
