Nebraska Baseball Clinches Spot In Big Ten Tournament, Defeats Michigan State 5-2

After falling to Michigan State Friday night, Nebraska bounced back and took game two of the series Saturday by a score of 3-2. The Huskers gifted the Spartans two unearned runs, before a three run sixth put them ahead.

After a quiet start for both teams in the first, the Huskers had the games first big chance in the second. Nebraska loaded the bases after singles from Ben Miller, Luke Roskam, and Luis Alvarado with no one out. Jesse Wilkening hit a ball to third baseman Marty Bechina who stepped on the bag, fired to Dan Durkin at second who relayed to Zack McGuire for the triple play.

McGuire and the Spartans would plate a run in the third. McGuire reached on an error by Roskam, and then made it to second when Derek Burkamper fielded a groundball and choose to throw to Miller at first instead of getting the lead runner. A two out single from Bryce Kelley made the Huskers pay.

McGuire would start another rally in the fifth when he reached on an error by Angelo Altavilla. A single, sacrifice bunt, and a sacrifice fly would plate McGuire, but Burkamper would strand a pair of runners to keep it at 2-0.

Nebraska finally got to Spartan starter Jake Lowery in the sixth. Altavilla singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored when Mojo Hagge singled. Scott Schreiber came up after striking out twice against Lowery and lined a ball into left for a single. Lowery would depart and in would come left handed pitcher Joe Mockbee to face Miller. Miller would fall behind 1-2 before he doubled inside the first base line to plate both Hagge and Schreiber.

After regaining the lead, Burkamper would head back out in the seventh. A quick six pitch inning set the Spartans down in order and had the Huskers keep the momentum.

After Chad Luensmann came in and worked a clean eighth inning, the Huskers would get some insurance in the ninth. Hagge doubled when the Spartans lost a ball in the sun to start the inning. Back to back walks to Schreiber and Miller loaded the bases for the Huskers. After a pitching change, a walk to defensive replacement Brison Cronenbold plated Hagge before an Alvarado sacrifice fly scored Schreiber.

Alvarado would relieve Luensmann for the ninth. Luis would run into trouble after getting the first out when McGuire singled and then a pair of walks loaded the bases with only one out. Chad Roskelly would strikeout for the second out and then Durkin would flyout on the next pitch to end the game.

Nebraska comes back and picks up their 31st win on the season, improving to 31-17 (13-6-1 Big Ten). Michigan State falls to 27-20 (9-11 Big Ten). With a win, Nebraska picks up ground on Maryland who lost to Northwestern. Nebraska goes back into first place and clinches their spot in the Big Ten Tournament.