This game can pretty much be summed up in a few sentences and some imagination.
Auburn sent 19 batters to the plate in the first two innings, scored eight runs, and had only one infield hit. Nebraska pitchers Carson Jasa and Colin Nowaczyk struck out three batters on five walks. They gave the Tigers a blowout victory faster than some people could eat a cheeseburger.
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Fortunately, Ryan Harrahill was able to step in and stabilize the situation, rescuing Nowaczyk in the second inning, getting the final two outs, and then went two full innings without allowing another run. That ended up being significant as the Cornhuskers’ offense found some life and scored two points in the fourth quarter and two in the fifth to give fans a little hope.
Cole Kitchens had a single in the top of the fourth inning and a few minutes later Jett Buck hit a home run off the left field foul pole to score. After striking out four and falling out of the lineup last night, it was nice to see Buck put his bat to the ball like he had all season until last night. After four innings, Auburn is 8-2.
Nebraska took another step back into the game in the fifth. Mike Moyer led off the inning with a single for the second time in the game. Nico Newhan came on, the redshirt sophomore making his second appearance of the season, and got his first hit as a Cornhusker – a two-run homer over the right field wall.
As the Big Red hitters continued to put the ball in play, the positive Pete of the world got even more excited. Also in the fifth inning, the boys loaded the bases and loaded the bases with the tying run, but that wasn’t to be the case on a Drew Grego swing. At 8-4 we still had some hope, but there was definitely a feeling that they blew their chance in that frame.
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In the second half of the fifth inning, hope was completely dashed. Lincoln North Stars alum Lynden Bruegman made his first start as a Cornhusker, which was an absolute nightmare for the transfer from Missouri Western. single. Double. home run. home run. The new pitcher was now down eight more runs, 12-4.
Cornhusker batters dropped in order in the sixth and seventh inning. With the ten-point rule in effect, Tiger hitters decided to end the game early, bringing in left-hander Jalen Worthley for his first appearance of the season. Earning one run due to catcher interference and a double from Chris Rembert, Auburn’s best hitter so far this season, Mason McCraine hit a monster homer on a two-out pitch from Worthley to end the game.
Auburn evened the series with a 15-4 win and showed why they were ranked seventh, although Will Bolt and his staff had to believe they gave up on that in a big way. On the bright side, both Ryan Harrahill and Tucker Timmerman pitched well. On the downside, Nebraska has used 11 arms out of the bullpen through two games. That will put even more pressure on starting pitching tomorrow.
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Today, the team members did not put away their tents and continued to fight. They battled at the plate against the Tigers’ pitching staff, who had been very consistent all season, and Nebraska still had a chance to win the series.
These two teams will play again tomorrow at 1:00, with Gavin Blachowicz taking on Alex Petrovic.
notes
· Now that Nebraska plays Auburn for the first time in school history, the only SEC school the Cornhuskers haven’t played is Tennessee. Let’s take them to the Haymarket next year!
· Today’s attendance of 6,687 set a record for an Auburn non-conference game. Many fans were wearing red and you could hear their presence. Seeing all the red in the area at USC’s men’s basketball game this afternoon reinforced the belief that no fans are out on the road like Nebraska fans!
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· Will Jeske suffered a strained hamstring while batting in the first half of the first round. He came out of defense in the bottom of the inning but was replaced by Nico Newhan in the next inning. According to coach Bolt’s post-match interview, he will be evaluated tonight.
· Mac Moyer has firmly established himself at the top of the list. He had two hits and a base hit again today. He saw a lot of pitches, got a walk, and his hitting average was through the roof.
· Auburn scored four runs in three innings and three runs in one inning.
