Nebraska Beats UConn 8-5, Secure First Regional Win Since 2014

Perhaps the Bricktown Ballpark magic is real after all. For the first time since 2014, the Nebraska baseball team (32-22) won an NCAA Tournament Regional game. Although it was the Husker’s first NCAA Tournament win in five years, Nebraska is no stranger to grinding out victories.

“This is kind of par for the course for this edition of the Husker baseball team,” NU head coach Darin Erstad said after the game. “Nothing fazes them. They just go play.”

Things didn’t go as planned for the Huskers to start the game, however. The No. 2 seed, UConn, struck first, going up 2-0 in the bottom of the first on a two run blast off the bat of their catcher, Pat Winkel. Just two plays prior, Nebraska’s Alex Henwood had to take an early exit after taking a baseball to the teeth at first base, which resulted in him losing a tooth.

In the next frame, the Husker’s pulled one back on Angelo Altavilla’s solo shot to halve the Huskies’ lead. But in the bottom of the second, UConn plated two more runs to grab a three run lead. However, that margin was quickly erased by Nebraska, who came storming back in the top of the third. In the inning, NU scored four runs on five hits to take the advantage, 5-4. It was an impressive frame for the Huskers, who were able to bring the tying run across the plate before a single out could be recorded by the Huskies. Cam Chick, Spencer Schwellenbach and Altavilla were all credited with a base hit RBI I the inning.

In the fifth, Gunner Hellstrom added to NU’s lead with a two out, RBI single to make it 6-4 Nebraska. Although it was Hellstrom’s double play ball in the fourth inning that ultimately broke the tie for the Huskers, he was not awarded the RBI on that play, making his fifth inning single his first RBI of the afternoon.

In the bottom half of the inning, UConn very nearly erased the Husker’s lead, scoring a run off an RBI single of their own. Shortly thereafter, Nate Fisher was pulled from the mound with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. The senior southpaw from Yutan surrendered five runs on 13 hits and failed to record a strikeout. Robbie Palkert took to the bump to replace him, who promptly got out of the inning on a ground out, stranding the runners on the corners.

In the sixth, the Huskers added another after Aaron Palensky drove in a run on a base hit to make it 7-5, NU. Then in the ninth, Joe Acker roped a double down the left field line to bring in Schwellenbach and make it 8-5, which wound up as the final score of the game.

The Huskies out hit the Huskers 19-13 and both teams left 10 runners on base, but it was Nebraska who were able to string together hits when they needed it most. It was an overall excellent day for the Husker’s offensively, as every Nebraska player who had a plate appearance had at least one hit. “Everybody contributed in some way,” NU head coah Darin Erstad said following the game. “To do it against an All-American type pitcher (UConn’s Mason Feole) was very impressive.”

The Huskers will be back in action on Saturday to take on the winner of Oklahoma State/Harvard. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. but coverage will begin at 6:30 on KLIN.

(Photo – Kenny Larabee)