Nebraska Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader Against Michigan State

The Nebraska Baseball team (10-7, 2-0 Big Ten) got outstanding starting pitching in a doubleheader sweep of the Michigan State Spartans. Seniors Matt Waldron and Nate Fisher combined to hold the Spartans to one run over 16 innings of baseball.

Waldron started the Big Ten opener for the Huskers and threw a complete game gem. He allowed a solo home run to Adam Proctor to give the Spartans an early lead.

The Spartans would hold the lead until the sixth inning. Mojo Hagge would be the sparkplug as he walked to start the inning. Hagge came around to score when Aaron Palensky doubled into the right center gap. Palensky would be stranded on third when Joe Acker struck out.

Waldron would set the Spartans down in order in the seventh to bring the Huskers back up to bat. Cam Chick singled to start the inning. Alex Henwood would walk to move Chick to second.

The Spartans would go to the bullpen and the Huskers would counter removing Hagge from the game for Carter Cross. Cross hit what appeared to be a inning ending double play. An error from the Spartans allowed Cross to reach bringing up Angelo Altavilla. Altavilla walked to force in the go ahead run. Palensky followed with a sacrifiec fly to make it 3-1. A single from Keegan Watson made it 4-1.

With a three run lead, Waldron would set the Spartans down in order in both the eighth and ninth to secure the win for the Huskers. It is Waldron’s second complete game of his career and the first for the Huskers since Jake Meyers threw one against Western Carolina in 2017.

In the night cap, Nebraska jumped out to a 5-0 lead and held off a late Spartans rally. Fisher pitched 7.1 innings of scoreless baseball, while Palensky had a pair of runs batted in.

After Fisher put the Spartans down in order in the first, Nebraska took a quick lead. Gunner Hellstrom reached on a fielding error to start the rally. Watson and Jaxon Hallmark reached via a walk and an infield hit to load the bases. Gomes then singled to left to plate a pair for the Huskers.

Gomes helped extend the lead in the fifth. Hallmark singled and then scored when Gomes doubled to the gap to move the Huskers lead to 3-0.

With Fisher on cruise control, the Huskers added a pair in the seventh. Chick and Henwood reached via a pair of singles to start the inning. Henwood stole second to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Palensky then singled back up through the middle to stretch the lead to 5-0.

Robbie Palkert came in for Fisher in the eighth. With a runner on first, Palkert gave up a walk and three straight singles to plate a pair of runs for the Spartans. Palkert got Royce Ando to strikeout to end the bases loaded threat with a three run lead.

Nebraska was unable to get any insurance in the eighth. Gomes came in to close the game for the Huskers. Gomes gave up a pair of walks and a single to load the bases. With the go ahead run coming to the plate, Gomes got the speedy Bryce Kelley to ground out to end the game.

Nebraska sweeps a doubleheader for the first time since the 2017 season when they took a doubleheader at Cal Poly. It is a good pair of wins, and is a good first step for a team that did not make the Big Ten Tournament last season.

The Huskers will go for the sweep tomorrow in the modified series. Nebraska and Michigan State are scheduled to play at 3:00 weather permitting. Nebraska has not yet announced a starter for tomorrow’s contest.