Nebraska baseball scored three runs in the eighth and four in the 10th to win at No. 7 Auburn Friday, 9-8, in 10 innings. The Cornhuskers (5-3) trailed 5-2 through four innings, but surged back, then held on, to win it.
The Tigers (7-2) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after scoring four in the third. Nebraska answered in the top of the fourth, as RBI doubles by Cole Kitchens and Will Jesske cut Auburn’s lead in half. The Tigers got a run back in the bottom of the fourth to push the lead to 5-2.
The score stayed there until the top of the eighth. A two-run double by Dylan Carey shrunk the Tigers’ lead to 5-4. Kitchens followed with an RBI double to tie it at five. The contest went to extra innings, and in the top of the 10th, Carey singled to left to drive in a run and give the Huskers their first lead of the night, 6-5. Jesske punctuated the inning with a three-run home run to push the lead to 9-5.
The bottom of the 10th was full of drama. Auburn tallied three runs, churned through four Nebraska pitchers, and had the tying run at third with two outs, but Pryce Bender induced a popup to end the game and clinch the victory.
Kitchens was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two doubles, while Jesske was 2-for-5 with four RBI, a double and a home run to set the pace for the Huskers’ lineup. J’Shawn Unger (1-1) earned the win out of the bullpen, throwing 2.1 innings while allowing two earned runs. Bender grabbed his first save of the season. Bub Terrell paced the Tigers, hitting 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
The series continues Saturday at No. 7 Auburn. Pregame coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. with first pitch at 2 p.m. on 105.3 The Bone.