After suffering a hard fought loss Friday afternoon, the Nebraska Baseball team (2-1, 2-1 Big Ten) swept the Purdue Boilermakers in a Saturday doubleheader. Nebraska won the first game 7-2 in the scheduled seven innings, while the mercy rule was applied in the second game with the Huskers prevailing 10-0.

In the first game, Nebraska started Chance Hroch. Hroch worked around trouble during the afternoon, with the help of his defense. After Hroch allowed a walk and a double to start the second, Luke Roskam caught a runner trying to steal home to keep the Boilers off the board.

Working against Purdue left hander Calvin Schapira, the Husker offense exploded in the third inning. Jaxon Hallmark started the inning with a single. The Huskers would load the bases up with the help of a Purdue error and a hit batter. Max Anderson would continue his hot start with a bases loaded single to drive in two.

The Husker onslaught continued in the third with Roskam going opposite field for a run scoring single. Efry Cervantes hit a tailing fly ball to right field that was dropped for the second Purdue error of the inning. Joe Acker made the Boilers pay as he hit a seeing eye single back up through the middle to chase Schapira after he had given up six runs. Hallmark struck out to end the inning.

The middle innings were kept quiet with both Hroch and the Purdue bullpen keeping the offenses at bay. Hroch got a nice double play from the middle infield combination of Spencer Schwellenbach and Bryce Matthews.

Nebraska added a single run in the sixth when Hallmark manufactured a run. He led off with a single and advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw. Matthews moved him to third with a flyball out and then he scored when Schwellenbach singled up the middle.

Purdue did mount a rally in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ben Nisle led off the inning with a triple down the right field line. He would score on a sacrifice fly to break up the shutout for Nebraska. Another triple and sacrifice would bring home the second Purdue run. Hroch would give up his third hit of the inning before getting a fielders choice to end the sixth.

After going scoreless in the top of the seventh, the Huskers gave Hroch a chance for the complete game. He gave up back to back hits to start the seventh. With the middle of the Purdue order due up, Nebraska went to the bullpen to get Cam Wynne.

Wynne came into the game pumping straight fire. He recorded a pair of strikeouts, including one on a 95 mph fastball up in the zone. He got the final out when Tanner Haston grounded out back to Wynne to give the Huskers their first win of the season.

Game Two

Nebraska and Purdue started game two with the Huskers sending out Shay Schanaman to the hill to face off against Nick Alvarado. Neither team scored in the first with the Huskers stranding two.

The game was broken open in the second inning when Nebraska was able to plate five runs. Anderson started the frame with a single. After a fielders choice, Roskam walked and Cervantes singled to put the Huskers on the board. Acker singled to load the bases for the Huskers. Bryce Matthews doubled to clear the bases for the Huskers, breaking the game open. Matthews would score on a pair of wild pitches to make it a five run inning for Big Red.

After putting up a five spot, Schanaman worked around a leadoff double to keep the Boilers off the board in the second. Both teams managed to be scoreless in the third as well.

Nebraska added three more runs in the fourth inning. Hallmark started the inning with being hit. He then stole second and scored when Matthews drove him in with a single. Schwellenbach and Chick both walked to load the bases for Anderson who drove in a pair with another hit to push the Husker lead to 8-0.

Nebraska added single runs in the fifth and seventh innings. The Huskers took advantage of 14 Purdue walks. Three walks to Hallmark, Matthews, and Schwellenbach loaded the bases with one out. A balk brought home the Huskers ninth run.

Hallmark scored again in the seventh off a walk. He walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Matthews walked, Schwellenbach moved both runners over with a ball to the right side. Chick then scored Hallmark with a sacrifice fly to left.

With the mercy rule in effect, Nebraska went to the bullpen for Calen Feekin to close this on out. Feekin came out and attacked the strike zone. He gave up a single to start the inning, before getting a fielders choice for the first out. He closed the door on Purdue with back to back strikeouts to sweep the twin bill for the Huskers.

Nebraska now goes for the series win tomorrow morning with a 10 a.m. contest against Purdue.