Nebraska baseball defeats South Alabama for first win of 2023 season

Nebraska baseball is off the schnide in 2023.

In a Friday nail-biter that came down to the final out, the Huskers were far from flawless. But the bullpen held the lead after the offense got to South Alabama’s ace early in a 5-4 victory that represents NU’s first round of high-fives this season.

The Jaguars had a chance to tie the game in the ninth despite recording just two hits thanks to 10 free passes from Nebraska pitching that included six hit batsmen. A leadoff plunked hitter and sac bunt against left-hander Kyle Perry – a fifth-year senior who entered with no collegiate saves – gave the hosts two shots before a popout and grounded ended the game on Stanky Field in Mobile, Alabama.

“It’s big and it’s why you stay the course and just keep showing up and keep competing,” NU coach Will Bolt said on the Huskers Radio Network. “We didn’t play a perfect ballgame but we were gritty.”

Nebraska briefly trailed 2-1 in the second inning before taking the lead for good. A Casey Burnham double and Dylan Carey hit-by-pitch set up Max Anderson for an RBI single followed by a Ben Columbus run-scoring groundout in the top of the third. Single runs in the fifth and sixth – on another Columbus RBI groundout and Columbus plunking with the bases loaded, respectively – kept the visitors in front.

Garrett Anglim swatted his first home run of the season in the second, sending a 1-0 offering 398 feet out beyond left-center field for the game’s opening run. It was part of a strong offensive showing against South Alabama lefty Jeremy Lee – a freshman All-American in 2021 – who lasted five innings and 90 pitches while allowing four runs.

The potential was there for the Husker offense to inflict much more damage amid 12 stranded baserunners and a 1-for-14 performance with runners in scoring position. Max Anderson finished with two of the lineup’s six hits, boosting his average to .435.

“The message has been incredibly clear and consistent with this team,” Bolt said. “Just show up and assume nothing on the next day and give it your best effort. Compete, give each other everything you have and see what happens in the end.”

Meanwhile, NU’s Emmett Olson went 5 1/3 frames for a second straight start. The lefty allowed a pair of unearned runs in the second frame when a two-out walk, infield throwing error, and plunked batter led to a two-run single by nine-hole hitter JG Bell. Colson Lawrence also tagged Olson for a homer to left-center in the fifth to cut the lead to 4-3.

South Alabama (4-2) drew within 5-4 in the sixth on the strength of a walk and two hit batters, getting a score on a Shay Schanaman wild pitch. The fifth-year senior reliever settled down to toss 2 1/3 scoreless innings overall. Freshman left-hander Jalen Worthley recorded a key out in the eighth – a flyout to right with the bases full – before Perry closed out the ninth.

Worthley, a Lincoln East grad, was also the bright spot out of the bullpen in San Diego last weekend.

“He’s laughing with me on the mound when he takes the ball,” Bolt said. “He’s kind of built for that. I think he’s got a bright future in our program. We trust him in those situations – the team does too. He came through in a big spot.”

Nebraska (1-3-1) and South Alabama continue their three-game series Saturday at 2 p.m.