Nebraska looked like it was building something in the bottom of the 4th as well, with 2 on and no outs, only to have a double play, one of 3 on the day, and a pop up strand them.
That momentum carried over to the bottom of the inning when Husker second baseman Max Anderson put one into the jet stream that was flying out to right field and just barely snuck a ball into the bullpen for a home run, making it a 6-3 game. Brockett made quick work of the Illinois batters, with 2 Ks and a groundout. In an inning that the Huskers have routinely dominated for the year, it looked like they would get back in it. Reliever Jackson Brockett entered the game in the 3rd for the Big Red.
Two batters later, Gabe Swansen launched one into the pine trees in center, getting back 2 runs, at 6-2. Nebraska would battle back in the bottom of the inning, on a swinging bunt by Griffin Everitt, Illinois pitcher threw the ball high and inside of the first baseman. A wild pitch would score a run for Illinois, and a Cam McDonald single would drive in 2 more to push the lead to 6-0 before anyone could finish their Fairbury hot dogs. Whole Garza seemed to be finding his way slowly at the beginning of the 2nd inning, he got to 2 strikes on each of the first 5 hitters, he gave up 3 straight hard hit singles to load the bases. Evans couldn’t quite find the barrel, and hit a slow roller right to the Illini third baseman who stepped on his base and fired over to first to end the threat. With 1 out, catcher Josh Caron took a fastball off the helmet to load the bases for Cole Evans. While it wasn’t the back to back homers of Friday night, Nebraska short stop Brice Matthews and and third baseman Dylan Carey started the game off with back to back singles. Nebraska seemed unfazed, as they had scored 8 runs in the previous 2 games in the first inning. After a hard hit single up the middle, Ryan Moerman stepped up to the plate and launched the second pitch he saw over the left field wall. Branden Comia continued to be a thorn in the Huskers side as he led off the scoring with a solo shot to left. In a reversal of the first two games, it was Illinois that struck first on Husker starter Michel Garza, and via the long ball at that. Thats why we call it ‘Championship Sunday.’” The Huskers had their chances in different areas of the game, but couldn’t make the last big blow to get themselves back into it, or one to shut down Illinois from a rally. Starting pitching has been an issue, but according to Coach Will Bolt, it’s not THE issue. The Nebraska baseball team has struggled on Sundays this season.
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