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Huskers’ Fast Start, Strong Finish Power Victory Over Illinois
Nebraska couldn’t manage a hit for 6.1 innings in the middle of Saturday’s game against Illinois, but thanks to four homeruns on either side of that power outage, and another strong pitching performance, they got just what they needed in defeating Illinois 8-3 to clinch the first Big Ten series of the season.
Starter Jace Kaminska improved his record to 5-0 with his fourth straight quality start. The junior lefty pitched six innings, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out four and walking a pair. Nebraska (13-7-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) then got one inning from senior Kyle Perry, who gave up a single run in the 7th. Sophomore Corbin Hawkins came on in the 8th and finished the game on the mound, scattering three hits amongst four Ks.
The first pitch of the Husker half of the first inning was deposited out on the left field berm at Hawks Field by junior shortstop Brice Matthews. His 7th homer of the season got NU off to a great start, but it was about to get better. Freshman third baseman Dylan Carey followed with another bomb to left, this time on a 1-1 pitch, his third on the year. Sophomore catcher Josh Caron then converted a one-out walk into the third run of the inning on a wild pitch.
Kaminska gave up single runs in the second and third innings on a wild pitch and solo homer, cutting the Nebraska lead to 3-2. Illinois (10-9 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) threatened to tie or take the lead in both the 5th and 6th innings, but Kaminska stranded two illini base runners in each frame to preserve the Big Red lead.
That lead grew in the bottom of the fourth as NU squeezed out a run without a hit. Junior first baseman Ben Columbus reached second on an error by Illinois first baseman Drake Wescott. Columbus moved up to third on a passed ball, and then scored on Matthews’ sacrifice fly. That made it 4-2 NU.
Illinois tightened the contest up again in the top of the 7th on a two-out, run-scoring single off of Kyle Perry. Still dealing with two runners in scoring position, Perry escaped the situation by coaxing a fly out to center.
Nebraska’s lineup had just reached the Illinois bullpen in the 6th, stranding two runners. Then in the 7th, they finally found their first base hits since the first inning. Caron singled with two away, then sophomore pinch-hitter Gabe Swansen crushed a two-run HR. Senior DH Griffin Everitt followed with another homerun, making it 7-3 Huskers.
Hawkins struck out the side in the top half of the 8th, then a sac fly from Carey scored senior center fielder Casey Burnham in the home half, finishing off the 8-3 victory.
Both Matthews and junior second baseman Max Anderson exit Saturday’s game batting over .400 on the season, with Matthews at .403 and Anderson still at .414 despite going 0-for-5 against the Illini.
Nebraska will go for the sweep in Sunday’s series finale in Lincoln scheduled for 2:30.