Robbie Bolin’s RBI single in the bottom of the 10th drove in Dylan Carey to propel Nebraska to 5-4 win in 10 innings over Michigan State Tuesday in the first day of the Big Ten Tournament at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
Nebraska keeps hopes alive for a repeat as the Big Ten Tournament Champions after winning the tournament last year. The Huskers also need to defeat Oregon Friday in the final pool-play game before the four-team, single-elimination bracket with the four pool winners beginning Saturday.
It started dismally for Nebraska. After the teams traded runs in the first inning, Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Joseph Dzierwa took over, holding Nebraska scoreless for the next four innings as the Spartans scored two runs in the second and one in the fifth to build a 4-1 lead.
But the Cornhuskers broke through against Dzierwa in the sixth. With one out, Cayden Brumbaugh singled to right. Gabe Swansen followed with a single to center, with both runners advancing on an error. With two outs, Case Sanderson singled to center, scoring Swansen and Brumbaugh to pull the Huskers to within one.
Then in the bottom of the ninth, Bolin bunted for a hit, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rhett Stokes. After Riley Silva popped up to second, Joshua Overbeek lofted a fly ball to right field. Parker Picot moved into position to catch the ball, but dropped it. Bolin, running on contact, scored to tie the game.
Then in the 10th, Carey singled to left, then stole second as Sanderson struck out. With two outs, Bolin singled to center, scoring Carey to win the game for Nebraska.
The Husker offense was led by Brumbaugh, who was 3-for-5 with a double, and Sanderson, who was 3-for-5 with two RBI. Nebraska relievers Tucker Timmerman, Drew Christo and Luke Broderick (4-2) combined for eight innings of five-hit, one-unearned-run ball.
The Huskers now have the next two days off, before preparing for a matchup against the Big Ten regular-season champion Ducks. Nebraska must win the game to advance to the four-team championship bracket. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. Friday, with pregame scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on KLIN.