Minnesota Walks Off Nebraska in 5-2 Win

The Nebraska Baseball team (12-8, 3-1 Big Ten) fell on a walk off home run to the Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-13, 4-0 Big Ten) on Friday afternoon. The Huskers pitched well, but a three run blast made the difference in the contest.

Nebraska started off strong in the first inning. Mojo Hagge led the game off with a home run off of All-American Max Meyer. Hagge took a 3-2 pitch and drilled it over the wall in left field to give the Huskers an early lead.

Matt Waldron would put up a pair of zeros on the scoreboard in the first two innings against a tough Minnesota lineup.

The Gophers got on the board in the third. A single, sacrifice bunt, and another single allowed Minnesota to knot the score at one.

Nebraska had a chance to retake the lead in the fourth inning when the first two runners reached. Mike Addante struck out trying to get a bunt down, and Colby Gomes then grounded into a double play to end the threat.

Minnesota took their first lead of the game in the fifth. A double and a single helped the Gophers plate a run. Waldron would help himself when he picked off a runner on first to prevent any more damage.

Joe Acker provided the Huskers a spark in the seventh inning. Acker reached via a hit to start the inning. He would steal second, and then score with two outs when Cam Chick singled.

With the game tied at 2 going into the ninth, the Huskers were unable to get anything going against Minnesota reliever Brett Schulze. Schulze struck out the side in the ninth, bringing up the home team with a chance to win.

After eight innings of solid pitching from Waldron, Nebraska went to the bullpen. Robbie Palkert came on and got Minnesota in order to send the game to extra innings.

Nebraska blew a chance in the tenth when the Huskers had runners on the corners with one out. Chick doubled with one out to put a runner on. Alex Henwood then hit a sharp single into left field. Chick stopped at third to bring up Hagge. Hagge and Angelo Altavilla would be unable to connect as both struck out to end the Husker threat.

With no lead, Palkert stayed in for the tenth. He gave up a single to start the inning. The Gophers would bunt the winning run to second. After an intentional walk, Eli Wilson stepped up and clubbed a three run bomb to left to send the Gophers into first place in the Big Ten standings.

Nebraska and Minnesota will be back on the diamond tomorrow afternoon. Nate Fisher gets the ball for the Huskers while Patrick Fredrickson heads to the hill for the Gophers. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05.