Matthews’ home run lifts Nebraska baseball to extra-inning win over Michigan

Nebraska’s Brice Matthews is aware of how you can flip a sport on its head.

The Huskers’ leadoff slugger — who has pushed in additional than 20% of NU’s runs this season — as soon as once more got here up clutch when it mattered most.

In a sport outlined by the beginning pitchers, Matthews had the final snicker. His two-run blast to left subject within the tenth inning lifted Nebraska to a hard-earned 3-1 win over the Wolverines on Friday in Ann Arbor.

“As soon as once more, he’s simply placing us on his again at instances,” Nebraska head coach Will Bolt stated on the Huskers Radio Community.

Runs have been all the time going to be at a premium in a conflict between two of the Huge Ten’s finest left-handed pitchers. Nebraska (17-9-1, 3-1 Huge Ten) struck first when middle fielder Casey Burnham blasted a solo residence run — his first of the yr — for an early 1-0 lead.

Nevertheless, Nebraska couldn’t handle the rest off Michigan starter Connor O’Halloran. The Huskers had a number of probabilities to interrupt by way of as they stranded a runner at third base in a number of frames, however O’Halloran lasted 9 innings regardless of giving up six hits.

Nebraska’s Emmett Olson cruised by way of six no-hit innings in dominant vogue, however the seventh inning may need been his finest body of the day.

A tough-hit ball to the outfield wall represented Michigan’s first hit of the day, and it additionally gave the Wolverines runners on second and third with no outs. Olson efficiently pitched out of the jam with out permitting a run, and was visibly fired up as he walked off the mound.

Together with his pitch depend stretching over 100, Olson wasn’t so fortunate within the eighth inning. Sandwiched round a pair of strikeouts, Michigan’s Jonathan Kim situated a breaking ball and despatched it for a solo residence run that tied the sport 1-1.

Olson recorded eight strikeouts and allowed simply two hits in 8 2/3 innings of labor earlier than turning the ball over to Shay Schanaman.

“The seventh inning, the Houdini act to get out of the jam was fairly wonderful,” Bolt stated. “Only one swing of the bat was the distinction for them, and he might have completed that sport probably. What an superior efficiency by him and our protection.”

As Michigan made its first name to the bullpen within the tenth inning, it was time for Nebraska’s hitters to capitalize. Burnham reached base with a single, and Bolt determined to dial up a hit-and-run. Maybe with out it, Matthews by no means would have swung at a pitch he needed to attain for low within the strike zone — however NU’s shortstop linked with each inch of it for a two-run blast.

Schanaman was additionally at his sharpest, as he allowed only one base runner and struck out 5 to earn his second win of the season.

Seeing his staff soak up a intestine punch of shedding their slim lead late within the sport, solely to show issues round when it mattered most was an encouraging signal for Bolt.

“You’ve received to remain within the struggle and within the second, (as a result of) you possibly can’t journey the waves of emotion all through the sport,” Bolt stated. “I feel that’s the purpose we’re beginning to see this staff flip a nook to get to.”

Nebraska will look to safe the collection win over Michigan at 1 p.m. on Saturday.