NU Big Ten tournament hopes take a hit in 6-3 loss
Nebraska’s (23-25, 7-11) inability to string hits together and a poor start from pitcher Luis Alvarado cost the Huskers as Indiana (32-15, 10-9) defeated NU 6-3.
The beginning looked promising for NU. They used a Mojo Hagge single, a Hoosier error and a hit by pitch to have it bases-loaded with no outs in the top of the first. The Huskers would be able to use a Luke Roskam sac-fly to get out to a 1-0 lead.
“We would have liked to get more,” head coach Darin Erstad said. “This game was a game of height of pitches. Our guys couldn’t pick up (Pauly Milto's) spin on his slider and he didn’t throw many balls.”
With Indiana’s tournament hopes clinging, the Hoosiers would respond in the second inning with a solo home run from freshman Drew Ashley. That was Indiana’s 49th home run of the season. The Hoosiers’ 49 homers are a conference-high.
Indiana’s constant power didn’t stop there as back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning from junior Luke Miller and sophomore Scotty Bradley made it a 5-1 IU advantage as Alvarado’s struggles continue.
Alvarado’s last career start in Haymarket didn’t end up like he had hoped. He only pitched three innings and gave up nine hits, five earned runs and only struck out one. In the past two starts combined, Alvarado has pitched 4.1 innings, allowed 12 earned runs and has struck out two. Redshirt freshman Paul Tillotson replaced him.
“Luis was up in the zone and not over the plate,” Erstad said. “Height wins and today their height was better.”
IU would plate one more in the fifth inning to make it a 6-1 Hoosier lead. NU would garner a run in the seventh after Alex Henwood crushed a RBI-double down the right field line that cut the Hoosier’s lead to 6-2.
In the eighth inning, junior Jesse Wilkening smashed his eighth home run of the season to make it a 6-3 game.
The action would end there as Hoosier pitcher Matt Lloyd would retire the Huskers in order in the bottom of the ninth to end the contest. Nebraska’s offense couldn’t string together hits on Saturday as they had only two hits through five innings. NU only had one inning where they had two hits or more.
Nebraska returns to Haymarket Park on Sunday at 11:05 a.m. in a grudge match against the Hoosiers. It’ll be the most important game of the year and the hopes of making the Big Ten tournament may depend on the outcome of Sunday’s game. NU’s Matt Warren (4-3) will face off against Hoosier Tim Herrin (3-0). The game can be seen on BTN Plus and can be heard on the Huskers IMG Sports Network.
“Every game is the exact same. I don’t put any more importance on any other game. It’s obviously a huge game, but we treat Tuesday games in the middle of the season the same way,” Erstad said.
“It’s a matter of coming out tomorrow and bring your energy on senior day and try to get a win,” Roskam said. “We are fighting for our lives, so it’s about time we win this series and go to Illinois.”
Current Big Ten Standings in the race for eighth as of 5:23 p.m:
