For the second time this season, Nebraska knocked off a ranked team, defeating the #24 Maryland Terrapins 3-1 on Friday night in front of 4,749 fans. Jake Hohensee was spectacular in the victory, allowing just three hits and a pair of walks.
After both Hohensee and Maryland starter Brian Shaffer matched each other with zeros on the scoreboard in the first two innings, Nebraska broke through in the third.
Jesse Wilkening was hit with a pitch in the helmet to start the inning, and Jake Schleppenbach singled to left field to put the first two men on. After a sacrifice bunt from Mojo Hagge, Angelo Altavilla lifted a flyball to left to score Wilkening from first.
With a lead, Hohensee would set down the Terrapins in order in the fourth, bringing the Husker offense back up.
Nebraska added two runs in the fourth to stretch the lead to 3-0. After Scott Schreiber grounded out to start the frame, Ben Miller and Luis Alvarado singled to put two on. A two out double from Wilkening down the right field line would plate both runners.
With a 3-0 lead, Hohensee would be on cruise control. He had 1-2-3 innings in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth innings. He had a career high eight strikeouts, and baffled the Maryland hitters all night.
Jake did get some help in the sixth when he issued a leadoff walk to Zac Jancarski. A lineout double play straight to Schleppenbach helped Hohensee escape the sixth with no damage.
Just another heads-up play from @Jschlepp6.https://t.co/ojvQPLoABI
— Nebraska Baseball (@Husker_Baseball) April 8, 2017
In the ninth, Nebraska let Hohensee chase the complete game. After a leadoff hit and a one out double, Hohensee was pulled to a standing ovation. Alvarado would come in from left and allow a RBI single to Brandon Gum to put the tying run on base. Alvarado came back and got a strikeout of Will Watson and a flyout from Nick Cieri to end the game.
With the win, Nebraska now moves to 18-10-1 (3-0-1 Big Ten). Maryland now drops to 19-9 (5-2 Big Ten). Nebraska and Maryland will resume their three game series tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 2:05. Derek Burkamper will get the ball and will face off against Taylor Bloom.