Huskers Power Past Lions 8-1

Behind a stellar start from Kyle Kubat, and a balanced effort from the plate, the Nebraska baseball team defeated the Loyola Marymount Lions 8-1 on Saturday afternoon. Kubat followed up his quality start from last weekend, by pitching another 7 innings of one run baseball. Blake Headley led the way for the Huskers going 3-5 with a pair of doubles.

The Huskers would go on to waste their initial opportunity, as Jake Schleppenbach singled to lead off the game, and moved to third on a Ryan Boldt double. With two runners in scoring position, the Huskers were unable to get them home, as Schleppenbach was out at the plate on a fielder’s choice.

Loyola Marymount would take advantage of their own opportunity in the bottom of the first. After Kubat hit Billy Wilson, David Fletcher would send a ball into the right field gap for a RBI double. Kubat would then go to work, as he set down the next 16 batters in a row.

While Kubat was posting zeros on the scoreboard, the Husker offense broke through. Another Schleppenbach base hit followed by a cue shot to left field by Boldt, left the Huskers with two on and one out. This time Headley hit a ball off the top of the right field fence, which came back into play for a two RBI double.

The Huskers added insurance runs in the next three innings. First in the fourth, Austin Darby led off with a single. Darby stole second base, and would score on a double by Steven Reveles. The Huskers were able to knock out starting pitcher Trevor Megill in the fourth by running his pitch count up to over 80 pitches.

In the fifth, Headley would double to lead off the inning. Headley would be brought around by two sacrifices off the bats of Ben Miller, and Tanner Lubach respectively. Kubat would just keep chugging along in the bottom of the fifth, as the Lions would go down in order again.

The game would be broken up by the Huskers in the sixth inning, as Luis Alvarado and Reveles led off the inning with back to back hits. Schleppenbach put down a sacrifice towards third base that was thrown into right field scoring two runs. Schleppenbach would be brought home by a single from Scott Schreiber.

The Huskers final tally was courtesy of a Lubach solo blast over the left field wall. The Huskers closed the game out with Jake Meyer relieving Kubat. Meyer would get out of a min jam in the eighth by inducing a 6-4-3 double play ball.  Meyer would pitch a scoreless ninth, striking out two to secure the Husker victory.

With the victory, the Huskers move back over the .500 mark to 5-4. The Huskers will try to win the series tomorrow afternoon. Derek Burkamper will get the start after being the Friday starter last weekend against Brigham Young. Burkamper will be opposed by Tylor Megill who has a 2-0 record on the early season. Gametime is set for 1:05 CST.