Huskers Drop Series Opener vs. Michigan State

Nebraska threatened in the bottom of the ninth but couldn’t rally to plate the tying run, as the Huskers suffered a 4-1 loss vs. Michigan State at Hawks Field on Thursday night.

With Minnesota’s 15-14 win vs. Northwestern tonight, Nebraska still has a path to the Big Ten Baseball Tournament in Omaha. The Huskers must win the next two against the Spartans and need Maryland to sweep Purdue to secure the final spot.

Nebraska (21-30, 8-14 Big Ten) had one run on eight hits and an error, while the Spartans (24-28, 8-14 Big Ten) totaled four runs on 10 hits.

Starter Jackson Brockett fell to 0-1 on the season, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out a pair in three innings. Shay Schanaman pitched the final six innings, surrendering an unearned run on six hits with six strikeouts.

Cam Chick had a team-high two hits, while Garrett Anglim, Griffin Everitt, Colby Gomes, Leighton Banjoff, Brice Matthews and Efry Cervantes had one hit apiece.

The Huskers threatened early with a pair of one-out singles in the bottom of the first but Michigan State escaped the early jam without allowing a run.

The Spartans took a 1-0 in the second after a two-out solo home run to left by Brock Vradenburg.

Michigan State stretched its lead to 3-0 in the third after Casey Mayes’ RBI single and an RBI triple by Bryan Broecker.

Broecker began the eighth with a double to left and advanced to third on a wild pitch before trotting home on a two-out Nebraska throwing error to expand the lead to 4-0.

Back-to-back one-out singles from Gomes and Banjoff, followed by a walk to Matthews on full count loaded the bases for Nebraska in the bottom of the ninth. Core Jackson was hit by the pitch to score Gomes and bring the go-ahead run to the plate for the Huskers. Michigan State’s Kyle Bischoff struck out Chick looking on an 0-2 pitch to clinch the series-opening win for the Spartans.

Nebraska and Michigan State continue the series tomorrow night at Hawks Field. First pitch is set for 6:32 p.m. on Nebraska Public Media.