Huskers Take Early Lead, but Fall 7-2

Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Nebraska baseball team (22-13, 7-4 Big Ten) jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Saturday afternoon at the Wilpon Complex, but the #22 Michigan Wolverines (24-9, 5-2 Big Ten) scored the game’s final seven runs, including five runs in the sixth inning, on its way to a 7-2 series-clinching victory.

Each pitching staff walked seven batters on the day, but while the Huskers were unable to convert any into runs, the Wolverines turned four of walks in runs. The Huskers worked a leadoff walk five times on the afternoon and were unable to any of them home.

Nebraska out-hit Michigan 8-7, with Ben Miller and Jesse Wilkening each totaling of pair of hits. Scott Schreiber drove in both NU runs with his team-leading eighth home run of the season.

Michigan was led at the plate by nine-hole hitter Ako Thomas. The freshman second baseman was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. The rest of UM’s lineup went a combined 5-for-27.

The Wolverines tried to score the game’s first run in the bottom of the third, but Jake Bivens was cut down at the plate to end the inning. Bivens recorded UM’s first hit with one out and was still at first when Carmen Benedetti lined a two-out offering into center field. Ryan Boldt made diving snag, but the ball popped out of his glove when he hit the ground. Boldt fired into Steven Reveles who then made a perfect throw to Wilkening to retire Bivens.

Following the big defensive play to end the third, the Huskers took their first lead of the weekend on Schreiber’s fourth-inning home run. Miller led off with his second hit of the afternoon and Schreiber followed with a no-doubter that ricocheted off the light pole in left-center field. Wilkening added a two-out single later in the frame, but UM starter Oliver Jaskie limited the damage to a pair of runs when he ended the inning with his fifth strikeout of the game.

After only notching one hit through the first three innings, the Wolverines recorded three hits in the fourth, including a two-out single that tied the game 2-2. NU’s starter Jake McSteen struck out Harrison Wenson to start the frame, but then UM loaded the bases with a single, walk and an infield single. McSteen came back and struck out Jonathan Engelmann and got ahead of Thomas 0-2, but the third pitch of the at bat was lined for a two-RBI single into center field. With runner on the corners, McSteen got Bivens to fly out and the go-ahead run was stranded at third.

McSteen put down the Wolverines in order in the bottom of the fifth and then the Huskers had a chance to take the lead in the sixth when they loaded the bases with one out. Following a walk to Jake Schleppenbach to load the bases, reliever Ryan Nutof was able to get the lead runner on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Reveles. Michigan brought in lefty reliever William Tribucher and struck out Boldt looking to escape the threat.

After the Husker couldn’t cash in on their base-loaded opportunity, the Wolverines took advantage of one in the bottom of the sixth with five runs on two hits, four walks and a two-out error. McSteen walked Cody Bruder to start the frame and then Drew Lugbauer doubled. Jeff Chesnut came in and got a ground out before he walked pinch-hitter Jimmy Kerr to load the bases. Thomas came up again with the bases loaded and once again delivered, this time a RBI single that gave Michigan a 3-2 lead. Chesnut then sandwiched a strikeout with a pair of walks that plated runs and was in position to get out of the inning down just three, but a two-out error by Jake Placzek at third base allowed two unearned runs to score.

The Huskers got a leadoff walk in each of the next three innings, but each time UM’s bullpen put a zero up on the board.

Nebraska will try to avoid a sweep tomorrow in the series finale, which is scheduled for Noon (CT).