Seven-Run Seventh Pushes Huskers to Series Win
Dylan Carey homered and drove in five runs, capping a seven-run seventh inning that lifted No. 24 Nebraska to a 12-7 win against Indiana on Saturday afternoon at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.
Nebraska (21-6, 7-1 Big Ten) scored 12 runs on 12 hits, while Indiana (10-16, 3-8 Big Ten) totaled seven runs, seven hits and an error.
Carey finished 1-for-3 with a three-run homer and five RBI, drawing two walks as well. Drew Grego went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, and Jeter Worthley was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Case Sanderson went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Rhett Stokes finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Mac Moyer had a 2-for-5 afternoon with two runs scored, while Miken Miller was 1-for-2.
Carson Jasa improved to 5-1 on the season, striking out 10 batters across 5.2 innings while allowing three runs on four hits and five walks. Chase Olson, Ryan Harrahill, Jace Ziola and Braxton Stewart combined to pitch the next 1.2 innings. Pryce Bender closed out the final 1.2 innings to preserve the win.
Nebraska jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, loading the bases on Moyer’s single, Worthley’s bunt single and Sanderson’s hit-by-pitch. Carey drew a bases-loaded walk to score Moyer, Kitchens lifted a sacrifice fly to score Worthley and Buck reached on a fielder’s choice to plate Sanderson.
The Huskers added two more in the fourth when Sanderson singled home Stokes and Carey drew another bases-loaded walk to score Moyer, pushing the lead to 5-0.
Indiana rallied for three runs in the sixth with a pinch-hit three-run homer to left-center field with two outs that brought the Hoosiers within 5-3. The Hoosiers cut the deficit in half with a bases-loaded walk in the top of the seventh to make it a 5-4 game.
Nebraska answered with seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to put the game away. Worthley singled home Grego to open the scoring, and Sanderson singled to set the table for Carey’s three-run homer to left field that pushed the lead to 9-4. Grego then singled through the right side to plate Buck and Nunez and cap the seven-run inning at 12-4.
Indiana capitalized on five free passes in the top of the eighth, adding three more runs to cut NU’s lead to 12-7. A pair of walks plated the first two runs before a sacrifice fly to center field made it a five-run game.
Bender kept the Hoosiers off the board in the top of the ninth to close out Nebraska’s series-clinching victory.
Nebraska and Indiana conclude the series tomorrow afternoon at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park. First pitch between the Huskers and Hoosiers is set for 12 p.m. on B1G+.