Huskers Flirt With No Hitter, Shutout #21 Baylor 2-0

It was almost a combined no hitter. Nate Fisher tossed eight hitless innings against the 21st ranked Baylor Bears and the Nebraska offense did just enough for the Huskers. Fisher was the star for the Huskers, giving up only four base runners, with the first happening in the sixth inning.

Fisher was on cruise control early, putting the Bears down in order for their first trip through the lineup. Fisher was efficient in mixing speeds, and changing the eye level of Baylor hitters.

The Husker offense scratched a run across in the fourth inning. Colby Gomes singled with one out to start a rally. Gunner Hellstrom got a solid single to move Gomes to third with just one out. Luke Roskam then hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field to plate Gomes and give the Huskers a 1-0 lead.

Fisher kept the Bears off the scoreboard in both the fourth and the fifth inning.

With the Husker offense unable to scratch across any more runs, Fisher went back out for the sixth and gave up his first base runner. He walked Ryan Bertelsman on four pitches to break up the perfect game. An error on Angelo Altavilla put two runners on, but Fisher responded. A fly out and a fielder’s choice kept the Bears hitless through six.

Nebraska had a chance to extend the lead in the seventh inning. The Huskers got the first two men on base and asked Carter Cross to bunt them into scoring position. Cross got the bunt down, but the Bears got the first out at third. After a single loaded the bases, Baylor pitcher Daniel Caruso got Jaxon Hallmark to strikeout. Spencer Schwellenbach then grounded out to end the Husker threat.

Fisher would allow another base runner in the home half of the seventh. He hit Davion Downey with one out, and later allowed Downey to steal second base. Fisher got Chase Wehsener to ground out to Hallmark to end the inning.

In the eighth, Altavilla walked but the Huskers could get nothing else going. Fisher responded with a quick six pitch inning of his own.

Nebraska did find insurance in the ninth inning. Joe Acker reached on a throwing error by the shortstop. Hallmark walked to push Acker to second with two outs. Schwellenbach then blooped a single into center to double the Husker lead.

Headed back out for the ninth, Fisher promptly hit Richard Cunningham to start the frame. Ted Silva came out of the dugout and made the move to the bullpen for Robbie Palkert. Silva looked like a genius when Palkert then got a 6-4-3 double play to bring the Huskers within one out of the no hitter.

Unfortunately for the Huskers, All American Davis Wendzel had other ideas. He took a 0-1 fastball and hit it the other way past Hallmark for a base hit. Palkert would be pulled and in came Gomes to close the game. Gomes got Downey to fly out to Aaron Palensky in right.

The Huskers came so close to the no hitter, but Nebraska does improve to 6-6 on the year. They take a series on the road at a ranked team for the first time in 2019 and have a chance to sweep a tough Baylor team. Nebraska goes for the sweep tomorrow at 12:00.