Nebraska got a stellar start from Derek Burkamper and used a balanced offensive effort to get back to the .500 mark on the season, defeating the College of Charleston 6-1 Saturday afternoon.
Pretty weather and a pretty victory.
— Nebraska Baseball (@Husker_Baseball) March 19, 2017
Highlights from today's series-clinching win. pic.twitter.com/v6lkCFWsPv
Burkamper was on cruise control, allowing only one hit during his 6.2 innings of work. Riley Knudson to hit his first home run of the season in the third inning to give the Cougars an early 1-0 lead.
Nebraska would respond in the fourth inning when Ben Miller hit a solo shot into the visitors bullpen to tie the game.
The Huskers would break the game open in the fifth inning, sending nine men to the plate. Mojo Hagge and Angelo Altavilla would single to begin the frame. After a sacrifice bunt from Jake Meyers, Scott Schreiber would single to break the tie. After a walk to Miller, singles from Luis Alvarado and Jesse Wilkening would push the lead to 4-1. A RBI groundout from Jake Schleppenbach would plate the Huskers fifth run and effectively put the game out of reach.
Burkamper would exit in the seventh inning, giving way to Jake McSteen. McSteen would throw a scoreless eighth, while the Huskers added another insurance run in their half of the eighth. Schleppenbach would double with one out, and then score on a Brison Cronenbold single.
McSteen would run into trouble in the ninth when he allowed a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases. Chad Luensmann came in with two outs and struck out Luke Morgan to end the game.
With the win the Huskers improve to 8-8 (0-0) while the Cougars fall to 8-11 (0-0). Nebraska will go for the sweep of the Cougars tomorrow at 11:05. Jake Meyers will get the start for the Huskers, while the Cougars have not announced a starter.