Nebraska Sends Seniors Out Winners, Defeats Michigan State 8-7

The Huskers remain undefeated on Sunday’s in league play thanks to a dynamic offense and a reliable bullpen. Jake Meyers was ineffective and only lasted 2.2 innings, but the Husker offense did more than enough to pick him up.

After Meyers stranded a pair of runners in the top of the first, Nebraska got to Spartan starter Ethan Landon in the bottom half of the inning. Angelo Altavilla and Mojo Hagge walked to start the game. After a double play off the bat of Scott Schreiber, Ben Miller singled to drive in Altavilla.

The Spartans came right back in the second to tie the game. Zach McGuire reached on an error by Brison Cronenbold with one out. A pair of singles from Dan Chmielewski and Royce Ando plated McGuire for his third run in two days. A pair of ground balls ended the inning.

Nebraska came right back in the bottom half of the inning. Luis Alvarado and Jake Schleppenbach both reached on singles to start the inning. With one out, a balk was called on Landon to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Cronenbold singled to plate Alvarado, and then Altavilla singled to score Schleppenbach. Joe Mockbee would come in and strike out Miller after he walked Schreiber to load the bases.

The Spartans took the lead in the third when they knocked Meyers out of the game. Back to back home runs from Chad Roskelly and Dan Durkin leveled the game at three. A Matt Byars double and two sacrifice flies later would plate a run for the Spartans. Chmielewski doubled and scored on an Ando single to extend the Spartan lead to 5-3.

The Spartans added a tally in the fourth inning after Mockbee set down the Huskers in order in the third. Bryce Kelley singled to start, moved to second on a swinging bunt and then scored on a two out hit from Matt Byars.

Down 6-3, the Huskers plated three runs in the fourth to tie the game. Schleppenbach doubled to left center and then Cronenbold reached when his popup was dropped by Durkin. Altavilla walked to loaded the bases for Hagge who struck out to bring up Schreiber. Schreiber hit a ground rule double to plate a pair to bring the Huskers within one. Miller would tie the game with a sacrifice fly.

The Huskers retook the lead in the sixth. After Altavilla laced a ball right off the pitcher for the first out, Hagge struck out on a questionable called strike three. Schreiber would hit a grounder into left for what looked to be a single. Schreiber went hard and got a double, and advanced to third when Kelley threw wildly into second. Miller would single to plate Schreiber, and then Miller scored when Luke Roskam doubled.

Michigan State pulled a run back in the seventh. Byars singled and moved to second on a passed ball to start the inning. A double from McGuire scored Byars. A grounder and a flyball ended the threat for the Spartans with Nebraska clinging to a lead.

In the eighth, Nebraska got a pickoff and a double play to keep the Spartans off the scoreboard.

Jake McSteen would allow a leadoff hit in the ninth before Ted Silva made the call to the bullpen to get Chad Luensmann. Luensmann would battle Byars and got him to roll into a double play.

Chad would then face Marty Bechina who hit a deep flyball to left, forcing Hagge to make a jumping catch at the wall to end the game.

Nebraska now moves to 32-17-1 (14-6-1 Big Ten). Michigan State falls to 27-21 (9-12 Big Ten). Nebraska is back in action next week when they travel to Penn State. First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 5:30