Case Sanderson drove a 2-1 pitch over the right-field fence for a home run in the 10th inning as Nebraska defeated Michigan State, 5-4 in 10 innings Friday at Hawks Field. The game was the Big Ten opener for both teams.
Sanderson’s home run came after Michigan State’s Isaac Sturgess hit a three-run home run to right field to tie the game at four in the ninth. Nebraska scored single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to build a 4-1 lead. The Huskers got on the board in the bottom of the second, with the Spartans tallying a run in the top of the fifth.
Sanderson’s home run finished off a great night for the senior third baseman. He paced the Nebraska lineup by hitting 3-for-5 with a double and the game-winning home run. Jett Buck was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Jeter Worthley was 3-for-5 as well. Sturgess was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a home run to pace Michigan State.
J’Shawn Unger (2-1) earned the win out of the bullpen, pitching two shutout innings while allowing two hits. Ty Horn was solid in his start, throwing seven innings of one-run, five-hit ball. He walked one and struck out two. JD Greeley (0-1) took the loss, allowing one run in 1.2 innings pitched.
Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. Pregame coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. on KLIN.