Jett Buck’s three-hit three-RBI day provided the firepower in today’s mercy run victory over the North Dakota State Bison, which Cooper Katskee, Caleb Clark, and Pryce Bender for the most part shut down their offense, other than the first pitch of the game!
Caleb Corbin knocked Nebraska’s Cooper Katskee’s first pitch of the game over the left field wall to put North Dakota State ahead 1-0 before some people realized the umpire had yelled, “Play ball!”
Nebraska wasn’t as fortunate in their half of the first inning as their number one nemesis showed up – loaded bases. And like we have seen too often early in this season, not a one of them scored.
After his first pitch, Katskee sat down the next six batters, three of them by strikeout. Then that nemesis returned for Nebraska again, but this time they took care of it.
In the bottom of the second inning, Bison pitcher Matthew Totten hit Drew Grego, struck out Max Buettenback and hit Jeter Worthley. With two on and two out Mac Moyer slapped a double to plate two. Totten then hit Joshua Overbeek to load the bases, which marked the end of road for the Bison righty.
New pitcher Easton Reimers walked Drew Carey, which score Worthley. Bases still loaded and Case Sanderson hit a single to score Moyer. Bases still loaded and Jett Buck smoked a double to add two more runs. Nebraska was up 5-1, making NDSU pay for the walks and taking advantage of runners on base. They added a final run in the inning off a ground ball out by Preston Freeman to make it 6-1.
Katskee sat down the Bison in order in both the third and fourth innings with four Ks. The offense scored another run in their half of the third after a Moyer two our single. He advanced to second on a throwing error and then scored when Dylan Carey reached on an error.
With Katskee cruising once again in the fifth, North Dakota State’s fifth pitcher of the day, Cade Wiegert self-destructed with a bit of help from his defense. Moyer got his third hit of the game, a single to left and Overbeek got a walk. The two of them executed a double steal that resulted in a throwing error by the catcher and Moyer scored. Overbeek scored a couple of pitches later as Wiegert sent a wild one to the backstop. Nebraska up 9-1.
After a Carey line out, Wiegert hit Sanderson, the six Cornhusker to get plunked on the day. The Missouri native worked his way around to third and scored on yet another wild pitch. Going to the 6th inning, Nebraska was ahead 10-1.
Katskee came out of the sixth inning and gave up a double to Aiden Schenk. Recognizing that they will most likely need him out of the bullpen this weekend. Rob Childress made the walk to the mound and ended his day. The transfer from Miami of Ohio had not surrendered another hit since that first pitch home run until that double. Over five innings he struck out eight and walked one. Not a bad day.
The Canadian lefty, Caleb Clark came on and promptly struck out the side, 1-2-3. The young man has looked really good the past couple of weeks and looks to be settling into that stopper role. Pryce Bender pitched a perfect seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jett Buck ended the game on the mercy rule, driving home Case Sanderson with his second double and third hit of the game. Ball game! Nebraska 11, NDSU 1.
The win today extends the Cornhusker win streak to six games, leaving them undefeated at home. For a team that has struggled in recent years with midweek games, to start the season with three wins bodes well for the remainder of the season.
This weekend the Maine Black Bears will pay a visit to Haymarket Park.
Notes:
- If you’re one of those guys that like to wager a beer on a prop bet, take Mac Moyer to hit a single or double to left field. He did that three times today so you would have been able to sip on some suds for a good part of the game. He extended his on-base streak to 15 games and hit streak to nine.
- Cooper Katskee was very efficient today, going five complete innings and facing only 17 batters. He threw 67 pitches, 41 of them strikes. This has ended up working out well for Nebraska to have a guy of his quality pitching in the midweek and available to come out of the bullpen on the weekend for some quality innings.
- For us old folks, we get some very pleasant flashbacks when Pryce Bender takes the mound, jogging to the mound to Tim McGraw’s Indian Outlaw. That’s the same walk-up song that blasted through Haymarket Park when Joba Chamberlain made is way to the mound.
- Mac Moyer and Jett Buck both had three hits and Case Sanderson had two. Buck also had three RBI.
