Huskers Outhit Wildcats, but Fall 5-0

Evanston, Ill. – Behind complete-game shutout from junior Matt Portland, the Northwestern Wildcats (15-30, 5-12 Big Ten) evened its series with the Nebraska baseball team (32-17, 7-10 Big Ten) on Saturday with a 5-0 win. The Huskers outhit the Wildcats, 11-10, on the day and lost their first game of the season when notching double-digit. Nebraska entered the day 18-0 when recording double-digit hits on the year.

Nebraska had opportunities to score off Portland all game, but was unable to deliver as it left 10 runners on base. The Huskers left a runner on in every inning but the third and had their leadoff man on five times on the afternoon.

Portland allowed 11 hits, but only walked one Husker and struck out eight. The lefty tossed 132 pitches for the complete game.

Senior Kyle Kubat became the eighth pitcher in school history to start 40 games on Saturday and got off to a good start by retiring the first seven batters he faced, but took the loss and fell to 4-3 on the season. The lefty allowed five runs on nine hits and no walks, while striking out four.

The Huskers notched three hits in the second inning, but were unable to score. A two-out error by Northwestern third baseman Connor Lind loaded the bases for Wes Edrington and Portland stranded all three Huskers with a strikeout.

Nebraska then had a runner at third with one out after Ryan Boldt swiped second and third, but again the Huskers could score, as Portland escaped another jam with a groundout and a strikeout.

Kubat retired his seventh straight Wildcat when he got the leadoff batter in the third, but then ran into trouble. The Wildcats strung together four straight hits and scored two runs before Kubat stopped the bleeding with a line out.

Nebraska got its leadoff man on for the fourth straight inning when Blake Headley started the fourth with a single, but Portland again was able to keep the Huskers scoreless by retiring the next three batters he faced. After NU’s leadoff man was retired for the first time all day in the fifth, it had the leadoff man on again in the sixth following a leadoff single by Ben Miller. Portland again escaped the threat with a strikeout and lineout double play off the bat of Headley.

The Wildcats blew the game open in the sixth with three straight one-out doubles. Scott Heelan led off the inning with a single and Kubat bounced back with his fourth strikeout of the day. Northwestern’s 3-4-5 hitters then went to work with three straight doubles down the left-field line that scored three runs and chased Kubat from the game. Jake Hohensee took over and got two straight fly outs to end the sixth with the Wildcats ahead, 5-0.

Hohensee worked 2.2 innings of shutout relief, but the Huskers were unable to solve Portland.

Nebraska started a rally with a pair of two-out singles in the ninth, but the Wildcats stuck with Portland and he retired Boldt to end the game.

The Huskers and Wildcats meet for the rubber match of the series tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. Lane Grindle and Ben McLaughlin will have the call on the Husker Sports Network and the game will be video streamed on BTN Plus.