North Dakota State University got its revenge against the Nebraska baseball team after they defeated the Huskers in a 6-5 nail-biter.
The Huskers defeated NDSU earlier in the year, 4-1. Brice Matthews continues a great season after having two home runs and three Runs batted in.
It would be a completely different game as NDSU came out swinging after Short Stop Druw Sackett would hit a three-run homer down over the right fence. NDSU wouldn’t stop there as first baseman Gerret Hill’s sacrifice fly to right field would bring in another run. It seemed to all fall apart for the Huskers in the first inning. After a wild pitch by Kyle Perry, NDSU would then score their final run of the inning.
The Huskers did not do much better when it came to stepping up to the plate in the first inning, either. They finished the first inning with just a single hit. That would close the first inning 5-0 for the Bison.
At the top of the third, the Huskers looked to start getting on track. However, after another stray pitch by Drew Christo, the Bison would score another run.
The Husker bats would start to heat up as Cole Evans would connect with the ball and send it over the right fence to get the Huskers on the board finally. Matthews would continue what Evans started as he was next up to bat. Matthews stepped up big time and sent the ball to the left fence for a back-to-back Husker home run.
Matthews, later on in the bottom of the ninth, would smack the ball right down center field, sending it over the fence. This time, he would bring in two other runners on base with him.
Matthews is one of three players nationally with at least 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases this season. So far on the season, Matthews has 17 home runs, 59 RBIs, and hitting at a .395.
It would not be enough, though, as NDSU would hold on to the win after Casey Burnham struck out swinging.
Going into the game, the Huskers held a perfect 7-0 record against the Bison. As a team, Nebraska had seven hits and five Runs.
As for pitching, Kyle Perry got the start, but after the first inning, he was pulled out after giving up five runs for five hits. Nebraska played five different pitchers in the game. Brett Sears stood out amongst them. Sears pitched for three innings and gathered four strikeouts, and did not allow a hit or a run.
Next up for Nebraska’s baseball team is No. 23 ranked Maryland. They will travel to College Park, Maryland, to play a triple header.
After the loss, Nebraska fell to an overall record of 24-17-1 and sat at fourth in the Big Ten. Maryland is at the top of the BIG Ten with an overall record of 31-15.
Photo Courtesy of Husker Athletics.