The Big Red kept their hot start to the season going Wednesday night, defeating the North Dakota State Bison 3-1 at Bowlin Stadium. Nebraska is now 15-4 in the year and on a five-game winning streak.
If anyone had any worries that last year’s team’s weekday woes would seep into this season’s squad, they were put to bed after NU’s complete team victory over the Bison. Despite only winning by two, the Huskers dominated the game, making minimal mistakes and taking advantage of every Bison misstep.
The Big Red jumped on the North Dakota State Bison in the first frame. After NDSU pitcher Roman Trapini hit Riley Silva with one out, he walked three straight batters, giving the Huskers the lead to begin their night.
The Big Red added to their lead in the third inning after Garrett Anglim slapped one to centerfield, scoring Case Sanderson for his second RBI of the game.
After getting out of a first-inning jam, Will Walsh produced a masterclass. In six innings, Walsh gave up no runs, allowed just four hits, and struck out nine. Kyle Froelich appeared in relief for Walsh in the 7th inning, picking up where he left off, sitting the Bison down in order.
Despite having complete control of the game NU only led 2-0. With runners on the corners with one out, Will Bolt put on a managerial masterclass. Bolt signaled for a double steal, catching NDSU off guard, allowing Bryce Hughes to score from third, extending Nebraska’s lead to 3.
However, the Bison got that run back in the next inning after a Jake Schaffner two-out RBI triple cut the lead back to two. Jalen Worthley entered the game for Froelich and immediately got the Huskers out of the inning with a strikeout.
After being unable to add any insurance in the 8th, NU trotted out Rans Sanders in the 9th. On Sanders’s second pitch of the first at-bat, he produced a web gem, grabbing a hot shot back to him between the legs and running the ball back to first for the first out of the ninth. He then recorded two outs in six pitches, closing out the game and picking up his first save of the season.
Tyler Stone and Anglim finished the night 2-for-3, and Case Sanderson got on base twice and scored for NU.
The Big Red will be back in action this Friday, March 22, when they take on New Mexico State.