Nine-run second inning, Jackson Brockett’s arm put away Northwestern in series-clinching victory
In what many consider a must-sweep baseball series for the postseason-contending Nebraska Cornhuskers, the wet and windy weather did not make Saturday’s contest at Haymarket Park any easier. The elements delayed the first pitch by nearly two hours, sent fly balls swirling and created an uncomfortable environment for both sides. Yet it did not stop Nebraska from getting business done.
The Huskers picked up their second win of the weekend against the 5-23 Northwestern Wildcats by a score of 9-2.
Nebraska’s bats caught fire in the bottom of the second inning. The Big Red scored nine runs off eight hits in 12 at-bats. The Huskers did most of the damage with their backs against the wall, scoring eight of their nine runs with two outs in the inning. Charlie Fischer tallied with RBIs with a bases-clearing double that was immediately followed by a Gabe Swansen moonshot two-run home run, his ninth homer of the season. Ben Columbus, Cole Evans, Brice Matthews and Casey Burnham each knocked in a run for the Big Red.
That offensive explosion ended up being all the Huskers needed, as the team scored no runs and totaled just four hits after the second inning.
From that point on, the Wildcats did not sniff Nebraska’s lead. Jackson Brockett (pictured above) shut down the Wildcat offense, pitching six innings and allowing no runs on three hits.
Drew Christo came in for relief in the seventh and kept the shutout intact for NU. Northwestern broke into the scoring column in the eigth inning on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly off right-handed freshman Austin Berggren.
Jalen Worthley relieved Berggren with two outs in the eighth and surrendered one more run due to a wild pitch, but secured the final four outs of the contest.
Burnham had a colossal day at the plate, totaling three hits and batting in one run. Swansen also had a three-hit day and added three RBIs to his season total.
Nebraska is now 20-11-1 on the year and returns to action at noon Sunday against the Wildcats, weather permitting.
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