Nebraska baseball collapses in the ninth, losing the first of three to Minnesota
The Nebraska baseball team (22-16-1) fell apart in the ninth inning, allowing Minnesota (12-28) to score five runs that led to a 9-7 loss.
With a 5-4 lead headed into the ninth inning, the Huskers gave up two quick runs, and a base clearing double to make it 9-5. After rallying for two runs, the Big Red’s efforts fell short and they lost this one 9-7.
Game Recap
From the beginning the Golden Gophers jumped on Emmett Olson. After a rough outing last weekend against the Hawkeyes, Olson struggled to bounce back. In the first inning, Minnesota started the inning off with two hits that put two runners in scoring position. The Gophers then drove in both of those baserunners and it was a 2-0 ballgame.
The Husker offense clawed back one run in the bottom half of the inning. Gabe Swansen drove in Brice Matthews after the pair both hit singles.
However, things kept heading downhill for the Big Red starter. In the second inning, Minnesota hit a solo home run to extend their lead. Defensively, NU continued to struggle as an error then brought home another run for the Gophers, and they led 4-1.
Despite the bumpy first two innings, Olson locked in during the third. The lefty struck out two batters and let his offense take the reins.
The bottom of the third inning was when the Husker offense picked things up. After Brice Matthews led off with a base hit, Casey Burnham worked a walk. Gabe Swansen followed those guys up and sent one over the right field wall to tie the game up 4-4.
Olson continued to lock in on the mound. In the four innings following the second, the lefty allowed just two hits.
His offense helped him out in the bottom half of the sixth. Casey Burnham hit a single up the middle to take the lead, but the offense stalled after that point.
Shay Schanaman stepped onto the mound in the seventh inning as the Big Red led 5-4. The righty looked to be dealing early on, throwing two score less innings.
The ninth inning was the detriment to the Huskers in this game. To start the inning, Schanaman allowed two base hits. An error from the infield followed, and Minnesota tied the game 5-5.
Schanaman struggled to keep control and after walking the bases loaded, the righty made way for Jake Bunz.
With the game tied, Bunz walked in the first batter he faced. The lefty then allowed a base clearing double and Minnesota led 9-6.
After Bunz got out of the inning, NU’s offense scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning. However, it wasn’t enough and the Big Red fell 9-7.
Ninth inning collapse
The ninth inning was a nightmare for Nebraska.
The inning started with two base hits from the Gophers. After NU managed to get one batter out, Brice Matthews faced a hard ground ball to his chest, and he failed to bring it in which tied the game at five apiece.
However, the error was not the nail in the coffin for the Big Red. Shay Schanaman struggled to locate his pitches following that error, and a base hit loaded the bases.
Jake Bunz took over and had a similar issue. The lefty walked in Minnesota’s go ahead batter and a base clearing double broke the score open.
When Nebraska needed a clutch moment from Schanaman or Bunz, they got the opposite.
Swansen showed up
The name Gabe Swansen has slipped past some people this season as there are two Huskers that have hit more home runs than him. However, the sophomore was huge in this game.
After a rough start to the game and NU going down 2-0, Swansen stepped up. The sophomore drove in Nebraska’s first run of the game and brought back some momentum to the Big Red dugout.
He wasn’t done there though. Swansen stepped up to the plate in the third inning with two runners on. Down by three runs, the sophomore sailed a ball over the right field wall and tied the game up at four apiece.
Although his efforts weren’t enough to propel this team to a victory, he jolted some energy into the offense.
What’s next?
The Huskers are back in action against the Gophers on Saturday and Sunday to finish out the series. The games start at 2:05 p.m. and 1:05 p.m. respectively. Both games will be streamed on B1G+ (LINK HERE) and are available over the radio on the Huskers Radio Network (LINK HERE)
