Husker Winning Streak Snapped in 6-4 Loss

Lincoln – The Nebraska baseball team (17-8, 3-1 Big Ten) saw its eight-game winning streak come to an end on Friday night with a 6-4 defeat to the Illinois Fighting Illini (11-12, 3-1 Big Ten). The Huskers out hit the Illini, 8-4, and had three less errors, but issued 12 walks and allowed three unearned runs.

Five of Illinois’ six runs were scored by batters who walked and NU’s only error of the game resulted in three unearned runs in the seventh.

Nebraska had the tying runs on base in the ninth and it looked like Luis Alvarado would extend the inning with a two-out base hit to left, but on the play pinch-runner Cole Klemke overran third base and was cut down trying to get back to the bag, ending the game.

The Huskers were put in an early 2-0 hole, without giving up a hit. Junior starter Derek Burkamper stranded a pair of free passes in the top of the first with three strikeouts, but then failed to get out of the second frame. After Burkamper walked the bases loaded with one out, Adam Walton become the first Illini batter to put a ball in play and his sac fly gave Illinois a 1-0 lead.  NU went to reliever Reece Eddins and he walked Jason Goldstein to force in a run before striking out Anthony Drago to end the threat.

Burkamper went a career-low 1.2 innings and matched a career high with five walks. The right hander didn’t give up a hit and struck out three, but it the first time in 18 starts that he didn’t make it into at least the third inning.

Eddins delivered 4.1 shutout innings behind Burkamper, giving the Husker offense a chance to get back in the game.

The Huskers were held hitless through the first four innings, and Elijah Dilday snapped the streak with a leadoff double in the fifth. Dilday was then at third with no outs following a failed pickoff, but the Huskers were unable to drive him in and trailed 2-0 after five complete.

Following another scoreless frame from Eddins in the top of the sixth, the Husker offense cracked the scoreboard and took the lead. Facing the top of the NU order, Illini starter Cody Sedlock walked Ryan Boldt, who stole second and then scored on a pair of throwing errors. Jake Placzek and Ben Miller then worked back-to-back walks and Scott Schreiber tied the game with a RBI single. Jake Meyers followed with a bunt single that loaded the bases with no out and the Illini went to reliever J.D. Nielson. Alvarado stepped in and kept the offense rolling with a RBI single, giving NU a 3-2 lead. Nielson dug in and got three straight outs to leave the bases loaded.

Jeff Chesnut took over in the seventh and couldn’t find the zone, as he walked the bases loaded. Chesnut then got a high bouncer off the bat of Anthony Drago, but Taylor Fish was unable to handle the throw at the plate and two runs scored on the error. The Illini later added their third unearned run of the inning on a sac fly and with just one hit in the inning, retook the lead 5-3.

The Huskers cut the lead to one in the bottom of the seventh on a sac fly by Schreiber, but Illinois got the run right back in the eighth, pushing its lead back to a pair of runs, 6-4.

Nick Blackburn finished off his fifth save of the season with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.

Nebraska looks to even the series tomorrow at 2:05 p.m. and the game will be shown statewide on NET.