It’s always a battle when these two teams get together. With the series on the line today in Ann Arbor, both teams were trading blows until Nebraska launched a combination 1-2 punch for the knockout in the 9th inning, against the best pitchers Michigan had to offer.
The first inning didn’t feature any scoring, but action at second base featured a couple of replays that didn’t go Nebraska’s way. After getting plunked for the 3rd time this series, Husker catcher Jeter Worthley appeared to have stolen
second, but under review, went in a little too hot and over-slid the base by just a centimeter, just enough for his fingertips to come off while the tag was applied. In the bottom half, a Michigan runner slid into 2nd spikes up at Jett Buck’s knee height. Bolt asked for an interview for interference, but since Buck avoided the slide, nothing was called. Still a dirty play.
Husker starting pitcher Gavin Blachowicz wasn’t quite himself when the game started. A couple fastballs even dipped below 90. He slowly built back up to where he was hitting 94-95 on occasion, but just never quite seemed to have the presence on the mound we’ve been accustomed to seeing from him all season.
Blachowicz battled hard through his 4 innings of work, holding the Wolverines to 1 run in his 4 innings of work. That happened in the 2nd inning, as the wolverines sandwiched a pair of 2 out singles around a catchers interference call. Blachowicz rebounded and came up with a big full-count strikeout to strand the 2 runners and hold the game at 1-0.
Michigan went with Tate Carey on the mound, making his first start in a month due to injury. He had been the most effective starter for them over the first 3 weeks. He gave up 1 hit and struck out two, but with it being his first appearance in a while was on a very strict pitch count and came out after 2 innings, being replaced by Cade Montgomery who had give up 19 runs in his last 3 weekend starts.
The Husker offense couldn’t touch Montgomery early, as he combined with Carey to retire 10 straight huskers, before Drew Grego finally got a base knock in the top of the 5th.
Nebraska finally got on the board as Rhett Stokes led off the top of the 6th and unloaded on a 2-1 fastball, and parked it over the left field fence, tying the game at 1-1.
Husker reliever Cooper Katskee got into trouble in the bottom of the 6th. A single, followed by a full count walk, and another single loaded the bases with 1 out. Grant Cleavinger came in and appeared to have struck out the batter on a 1-2 count, but the call wasn’t made. On the next pitch he hit the batter on the leg, bringing in a run. Michigan tried to squeeze the next play, but Case Sanderson came in and used his glove to toss the ball to Worthley at home for the force out. Unfortunately Cleavinger hit the next batter too, and handed Michigan a 3-1 lead with Michigan’s best hitter due up with the bases loaded.
Pitching coach Rod Childress went and got J’Shawn Unger to face Colby Turner. They had a lengthy battle, including a ball pulled hard foul that left the ballpark, but Unger climbed the ladder and got him to swing at a fastball above his shoulders to leave the bases loaded.
Nebraska answered right back. Michigan brought in their closer, but Dylan Carey smashed the 2nd straight leadoff home run for the Huskers. DH Miken Miller poked a single through the left side, and advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch. An incredibly due Max Buettenback made his first plate appearance after subbing in at left field, and blooped an RBI single into left to re-tie the game!
The inning continued as Stokes hit one to shallow right field, and Mac Moyer drew a full-count walk to load the bases for Worthley. The former Michigan commit hit a bouncer to the 2nd baseman, who went to tag Moyer as he ran by, only Mac had seen what he was trying to do and took off straight back to first, enticing the 2nd baseman to follow him all the way back for the tag, giving Buettenback plenty of time to scamper home and make an odd somersault slide to give Nebraska its first lead of the game at 4-3.
That lead lasted about 5 minutes, as Michigan’s Brenden Stressloer hit a towering fly to right that easlily cleared the wall for a solo shot, and again we were tied at 4-4.
Remember way back 3 paragraphs when I said Buettenback was due? Well he came up in the top of the 9th and just took out all the frustration of his month-ish long slump on one single baseball and crushed it over the scoreboard in right field.
He wasn’t the only one, Jett “Mount” Buck stepped into the box later in the inning with the bases full of Huskers, He turned on one that the center fielder took one step back and then just watched it go over the fence in left center. That was Nebraska’s 4th home run of the game and they took a commanding 9-4 lead. The softball team, in attendance after playing in East Lansing, could be heard starting “Go Big Red” chants!
Michigan would scratch a run across against Unger whose went about to his max of 59 pitches, but he picked up the win as Timmerman came in to record the last 2 outs and take the series for the Cornhuskers.
The Huskers will finish the weekend no lower than 4th place in the Big Ten as they await the results of the 3 western schools ahead of them. 4th is a spot they need to put a stranglehold on, with the new Big Ten Tournament format.
Nebraska will be back in action on the road at Kansas State on Tuesday, before returning to Big Ten play Friday, March 27 at Haymarket Park in Lincoln.
