Huskers Fall to No. 18 Ole Miss, Forced into Elimination Game

No. 18 Ole Miss scored three times in the sixth and twice more in the seventh to pull away, as the Huskers fell 6-3 to the Rebels in a weather-suspended game that was completed Sunday afternoon at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.

Nebraska (43-16) scored three runs on eight hits and one error, while Ole Miss (38-21) totaled six runs on nine hits.

Max Buettenback delivered the highlight of the night for Nebraska, pinch-hitting in the eight and launching a two-run homer to left that pulled the Huskers within 5-3. Jett Buck homered to right in the fourth to stake Nebraska to its only lead, and Jeter Worthley singled to set the table for Buettenback’s blast. Joshua Overbeek went 2-for-4, and Dylan Carey, Case Sanderson and Drew Grego recorded one hit.

Ty Horn  fell to 3-3 and worked into the sixth for the Huskers, allowed three runs on six hits with nine strikeouts and two walks. Tucker Timmerman and Caleb Clark combined to pitch an inning in relief. Pryce Bender worked 1.1 innings and allowed an unearned run on two hits with a pair of punchouts and walks. Jalen Worthley worked a clean frame in the ninth with a trio of strikeouts and a walk.

Nebraska struck first in the fourth when Buck connected on a two-out solo blast to right field that had the Big Read ahead 1-0.

Ole Miss broke through in the sixth with three runs on four hits to grab a 3-1 advantage. A two-RBI double with two outs after a pair of singles gave the Rebels their first lead of the night. An RBI single to right field later in the inning doubled the lead to 3-1 in the sixth.

The Husker offense threatened in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with one out but a strikeout and groundout to second put a halt to the Big Red’s threat.

The Rebels took advantage of five walks in the top of the seventh to score two more runs and grow the lead to 5-1.

An errant relay throw on a single to left field in the top of the eighth scored another run for Ole Miss and sent a 6-1 game into the bottom of the eighth.

Nebraska rallied in the eighth when Je. Worthley singled and Buettenback followed with his pinch-hit, two-run shot to left to cut the deficit to 6-3.

Ja. Worthley kept the Rebels off the board in the suspended ninth frame that resumed Sunday morning to keep it 6-3 going into the bottom of the ninth.

The Huskers put two runners on with consecutive singles from Overbeek and Grego to begin the bottom of the ninth, but a double play and fielder’s choice ended the comeback bid and preserved the Rebels’ 6-3 win.

Nebraska will play in an elimination game against No. 22 Arizona State at 2 p.m. on ESPN.