Will Bolt identifies what kick-started Nebraska's offense in strong second inning vs. Purdue

No. 2 seed Nebraska‘s Big Ten baseball tournament did not get off on the right foot after dropping its opening game to No. 7 seed Ohio State. The Huskers looked to bounce back in a big way in Wednesday’s elimination game against No. 6 seed Purdue.

The Boilermakers put those hopes in jeopardy when Purdue’s Luke Gaffney hit a home run on a 3-1 count on Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Brett Sears in the bottom of the first inning.

Nebraska answered back with a four-run second-inning performance. Head coach Will Bolt praised his team’s effort for putting them ahead of Purdue early, namely the opening walk by Gabe Swansen.

“A 12-pitch at-bat to get the inning started after they had scored a run — that really, really sparked us, Bolt said mid-game. “That at-bat right there really led to that crooked number for us.”

After the first two batters reached for Nebraska in the second, Cole Evans got the Husker party started with a double to left field, scoring the first run and tying the game. Riley Silva reached base on a fielder’s choice which saw Evans tag out at third base but not before scoring another run.

Joshua Overbook joined in on the fun during the next at-bat, doubling up the middle to score Nebraska’s third run of the inning before Case Sanderson finished things off with an RBI single to give them a 4-1 lead after two innings.

The Boilermakers scored an unearned run in the bottom of the second after Sears found himself in a jam. He was able to free himself before any more damage was done, keeping Nebraska ahead in search of its first win of the Big Ten baseball tournament.

Aside from the opening home run and the unearned run, Sears has kept the Boilermakers’ bats at bay. In five innings pitched, Sears totaled 87 pitches, striking out seven, allowing two hits while giving up a pair of walks.

“I think he feels pretty good,” Bolt said of his ace pitcher. “I didn’t want to use him last night coming off short rest. Again, he’s already on short rest today by a day. He says he feels great real and we’ll let him roll as long as he still got the command.”

Clinging to a 5-2 lead at the bottom of the sixth inning, the Huskers look to keep their Big Ten Tournament hopes alive live on the Big Ten Network.