Championship Sunday. Something Husker head coach Will Bolt says so much. It’s important to start off the weekends on a good note, but even more importantly it’s how you finish. It’s safe to say, the first two games didn’t go the way Nebraska wanted, especially the peculiar way Saturday ended with the walk off pitch clock violation. The Huskers were in the middle of a 3 game skid, and with Auburn up next weekend, they needed a good showing today against the #16 ranked team in the country.
Just like they had in each of the previous two games this weekend, Nebraska put multiple baserunners on right away in the first inning. Two walks sandwiched around a Jett Buck double down the left field line loaded the bases for third baseman Josh Overbeek. “Beek” drove a ball to the outfield and Mac Moyer, who has really taken hold of the leadoff spot in the order jogged home on the sac fly for the 1-0 lead.
That wasn’t the end of the scoring for NU. Dylan Carey who has had a red hot start to the year, drilled a ball to one of the deepest areas of Globe Life Field and cleared the bases for a 2 RBI double. That double probably travelled farther than 90% of the home runs Carey has hit in his career. Huskers lead 3-0 and Florida State had seen enough and pulled their starter after only getting 1 out.
Huskers added to their lead in the 3rd. Buck and Case Sanderson led off the inning with back to back singles, putting runners on the corners. After an Overbeek strikeout, the red hot Carey laced a single through the left side of the infield to add to his RBI total and more importantly, the Husker lead. Sanderson and Carey executed a double steal. That would end up being huge as the next pitch was hit to deep short, but instead of a double play, it was an out at first and an RBI for Husker DH Cole Kitchens. Nebraska held a 5-0 lead after 3.
Nebraska starting pitcher Gavin Blachowicz was superb going two trips through the FSU lineup. He lasted 5 innings, and only gave up one hit on the afternoon, a solo home run by FSU slugger Myles Bailey in the 4th. Combine that with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks and that will more than do for a Sunday start.
The bottom of the Husker order finally got involved in the top of the 6th. Kitchens started the inning by absorbing a fastball at the top of the 1 on his 12 jersey. He flung his elbow guard to the dugout and jogged to first, where he was pinch run for by Preston Freeman, the speedy JUCO transfer outfielder. He advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scampered home as Will Jesske burned the a ball over the left fielders head for a double. Catcher Miken Miller got in the action by singling to deep center, scoring Jesske on the play. After a pair of walks loaded the bases, Buck hits a shallow fly to center,
The Husker bullpen shined on the day, starting with the redemption of Colin Nowacyzk. Less than a week ago, he was put in as an emergency starter to cover for Cooper Katskee (more on him shortly!) against Stanford on Monday, and had a nightmare outing, giving up 6 runs in only 1 inning of work. Today was about as opposite as you could get. How does 2 innings, 4 strikeouts, and no hits sound? He was relieved by the aforementioned Katskee, who matched him with 4 strikeouts in 2 innings of work, allowing 1 hit in his Husker debut.
The dagger happened in the top of the 7th. Overbeek singled on a full count to lead off the inning, and then Carey hit another ball off of the wall, this time in right field. The ball careened off the oddly shaped outfield wall in Globe Life Field into no mans land, and DC was motoring around the bases as fast as he could. Punctuating the inside the park home run, the 10-1 score, and the Husker victory all in one headfirst slide into home. He pounded the ground twice, slapped Overbeek in the chest, and then high-five-ed everyone in black and red that he could find.
The offense was productive up and down the lineup, but Dylan Carey was the star, finishing a triple short of the cycle and piling up 5 RBIs. Jett Buck added 2 hits, including a double, 2 runs scored and an RBI. Nebraska batted an impressive .438 (7 for 16) on the day with runners on. Something that really eluded them in the first two games this weekend.
What a Sunday answer from a club that had to be reeling Saturday night. Thats the beautiful thing about baseball though. You are right back at it the next day. This should liven up the plane ride home and give them a good shot of confidence heading into Auburn, Alabama to face a team that seemingly cruised through this weekend of top competition in Arlington.
