Nebraska baseball trounces Penn State 19-5 as the offense flourishes
The Nebraska baseball team (27-20-1) scored multiple runs in four different innings as they made quick work of Penn State (24-20). The Huskers scored seven runs in the fifth and six in the seventh to defeat the Nittany Lions 19-5.
After Penn State tied the game in the top of the fifth inning, NU’s offense turned it up a notch. The Huskers rallied for three crooked numbers in the final four innings of the game to dominate the first of the series.
Game Recap
It took three innings for the deadlock to be broken in this game. However, Nebraska’s offense got out in front first with a two-run shot from Brice Matthews.
Emmett Olson was the starter for the Big Red tonight. According to the junior, he had a little more ‘giddy up’ in his fast ball. That quality showed as the lefty threw for seven innings, allowing four runs on four hits.
Two of those runs allowed by Olson came in the fifth inning. Two Nitanny Lion batters went yard with solo home runs, and the game was tied at 2-2.
The offense flipped a switch at this point and rallied for seven runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning. NU scored seven runs, driven in by six different batters and took a 9-2 lead. Casey Burnham had the highlight of the inning as he drove in two runs with his triple to right center field.
Penn State tacked on two more runs in the seventh, but just like before, NU answered. Two base hits and a walk loaded the bases to start the inning, and the rally began. Efry Cervantes, Casey Burnham, Charlie Fischer, and Josh Caron all drove in a run and Max Anderson drove in two as NU scored six.
This prompted the Big Red to go to the bullpen and relieve Emmett Olson. Jackson Brockett took over on the bump and dealt a clean eighth inning.
The Huskers added four more runs in the bottom half of the eighth. Max Anderson drove in one and Gabe Swansen hit a three run shot to make it 19-4.
Brockett had one blemish as he allowed a run in the ninth, but he earned the save and NU won 19-5.
Bats answered the call
Early on in this game, it looked like the offense was in a bit of a slump. Brice Matthews hit a solo shot that injected some life. However, not a lot of energy was seen outside of that.
That was until the offense needed to answer the call. After Penn State tied this game up 2-2, NU’s offense exploded. Max Anderson’s base hit started the fire and more Huskers followed. Josh Caron took one on the numbers to bring home a run and Cole Evans sac flied a run home. Dylan Carey then cleared the bases with his triple. Efry Cervantes joined the action with a double and it was a seven run fifth inning for the Big Red.
The seventh inning was just as exhilarating. Once again Cervantes drove in a run and Casey Burnham followed him up with a sac fly. Max Anderson doubled to drive in two, and Charlie Fischer brought another home. Josh Caron rounded out the inning with a single to score six in the seventh.
Nebraska’s offense set themselves up for success going into the rest of the weekend with a massive offensive showing.
Olson dealt with his injury
Following last weekend’s Friday night game, it was hard to believe we would see what we saw from Emmett Olson tonight. The junior wasn’t perfect, but pitched seven innings after nearly breaking his foot a week ago.
It was just two swings of the bat that scored the first two runs in this game for PSU. Two solo shots put a couple of runs on the board, but Olson went back to work. The lefty struck out six batters in this game and only allowed four runs on four hits.
After a nearly freak accident, Olson dealt in a game that Nebraska felt like they needed.
What’s next?
The Huskers will look to win the three-game series on Saturday with a 6:02 p.m. start time. The game will stream on Big Ten Network (LINK HERE) and on the Huskers Radio Network (LINK HERE).
