Rewind to Sunday, May 3, following Nebraska’s 10-1 loss at Ohio State.
“We had a decision to make,” Coach Will Bolt said on the Huskers Radio Network, referring to his message to the team. “And obviously the message was, is that this group, we finish because we’re winners and we’re tough, and that’s what we did.”
Bolt was speaking after the 24th-ranked Huskers won a slugfest at Minnesota Sunday, 14-11, their seventh consecutive victory following the Ohio State series, a Buckeye sweep. After sweeping Iowa, they defeated Creighton, and this weekend they swept the Gophers, winning 12-7 Thursday and 7-6 Friday leading into Saturday’s what you might call curious end to the regular season.
In addition to 14 hits, including four home runs, Nebraska drew nine walks, had three hit batters and struck out 12 times, while Minnesota, which hit five home runs, committed the same number of errors.
“We were just absolutely relentless offensively,” said Bolt. That despite the fact the pitchers “they’re running out there have really, really good stuff and they’re playing for their postseason lives.”
Minnesota needed one victory to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament, while Nebraska earned the second seed. The Huskers finished the regular season 41-14, including 22-7 in conference play. That put them a solid second to UCLA in the final regular season standings.
The Huskers scored only once in the first inning Saturday, but that set the tone for what was to come. Mac Moyer was hit by a pitch and Jeter Worthley singled on what might have been a sacrifice bunt. The third baseman threw the ball past first, allowing Moyer to reach third. He scored on Case Sanderson’s sacrifice fly and Nebraska was off and running — the Huskers stole four bases.
Moyer had one hit, a two-run home run, in six at-bats. In addition to the hit-by-pitch, he walked four times. “Mac had an unbelievable day in the leadoff spot, sparking us,” Bolt said.
Sanderson, Jett Buck and Rhett Stokes hit the other home runs. Sanderson also had two doubles, drove in three runs and scored three runs. Buck drove in three and Stokes two.
Friday’s game might be described as curious, too. Minnesota took a 6-1 lead into the ninth inning, only to see the Huskers score six runs. Worthley, whose home run got Nebraska on the board in the eighth, drove in two in the ninth. Buck and Dylan Carey each drove in one and the other two came on a balk and a wild pitch. The Huskers had five singles, a walk and a hit batter in the inning.
Minnesota took a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning Thursday only to see Nebraska score seven and then four more in the seventh to take control of the game. The Huskers had six hits, including a two-run double by Carey, a walk and two hit batters in the sixth. Joshua Overbeek drove in three in the game, Worthley two.
As for Nebraska’s starting pitchers, Carson Jasa lasted 4.2 innings Thursday, allowing six hits and four runs, with four walks and seven strikeouts. Ty Horn went 7 innings Friday, allowing seven hits and four runs, with eight strikeouts and no walks. Gavin Blachowicz also last 4.2 innings Saturday, allowing six runs on 10 hits — three of them home runs — and striking out six with no walks.
Colin Nowaczyk finished the fifth inning Thursday to get the win, Ryan Harrahill got the last out in the eighth inning for Friday’s win, and Pryce Bender pitched 2.1 innings, allowing two hits and one run, while striking out two for Saturday’s win — and praise from Bolt.
“Bender was the MVP of this game,” said Bolt. “I said that in front of the team and to him. To see him these two outings this weekend, different look from him, very determined.”
Bender pitched a clean ninth inning Thursday.
J’Shawn Unger earned saves Friday and Saturday, for 11 on the season.
“Our guys play really, really hard, and they compete really, really hard,” Bolt said.
Their next opportunity to show that comes in Omaha, Friday.
