In what many considered a must-sweep series, for the postseason-contending Nebraska Cornhuskers, the weather did not make Saturday’s contest at Haymarket Park any easier. The Elements delayed the first pitch by nearly two hours, swirled fly balls, 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 Skers 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 3 RBIs after a bases-clearing double that was immediately followed by a Gabe Swansen moonshot two-run home run, his ninth of the season. Ben Columbus, Cole Evans, Brice Matthews, and Casey Burnham all knocked in a run for the Big Red.
That offensive explosion would end 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 shut down the Wildcat offense Saturday afternoon, pitching six innings and allowing no runs on three hits.
Drew Christo came in for relief in the seventh and kept the shutout in tack for NU. Northwestern broke the shutout in the 8th inning on a bases-loaded sac fly off of right-handed freshman Austin Berggren.
Jalen Worthley came in for relief for Berggren with two outs in the 8th and surrendered one more run due to a wild pitch, but secured the final four outs of the contest.
Burnham had a colossal day from the plate totaling 3 hits and batting in one run. Swansen also had a three-hit day and added 3 RBIs to his season total.
The Big Red are now 20-11-1 on the year and are back in action Sunday against the wildcats, weather permitting, at 12 p.m.