It was another sunny day from Hawks Field this Saturday as the Huskers took on the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles in game 2. Coach Darin Erstad did a little tweaking of the lineup taking out Christian Cox and Wes Edrington, who were both 0 for 3, each with a walk and 2 Ks. Luis Alvarado and Steven Reveles were inserted into the lineup. Another great showing by Husker Nation as 6,223 fans were in attendance to see Big Red win game 2-8.
On the hill for Big Red was lefty Kyle Kubat (17-3) with his 5th start for the year. Chance Sinclair admitted he struggled early yesterday but he managed to get his control back and keep the game from getting away. The same strategy was on tap for Kubat: keep the ball down as the Eagles are an aggressive team at the plate. They like to pound after the first pitch according to Sinclair.
Brock Minert-Husker Corner
Kubat worked a 1-2-3 in the first inning but issued a 4-pitch walk to start the 2nd (his 7th in 24 IP). Fortunately his defense then produced a double play and a ground out to again go 3 up, 3 down. He allowed his first hit in the 3rd but got out without any runs across the plate.
A great defensive throw to the plate by Huskers as Alvarado gunned it to Lubach ending with a tag out of Selesky at home plate for the 3rd out in the 4th to keep FGCU from scoring after Kubat hadnallowed 3 hits. Another 3 hits in the 6th inning produced 2 runs for FGCU, but Kubat came back in the 7th, and with the help of his defense, took out the next 3 batters. Another really good outing overall for him throwing for 7 complete innings and grabbed his 3rd W for the year.
In the 8th, Huskers went to the bullpen and junior Jeff Chestnut made his 8th appearance. He kept the first 3 batters from reaching base. Fisher came on in the 9th and he allowed a couple of hits but closed out the inning without the Eagles reaching home plate.
Eagles had Devin Smeltzer, 6′ 3″ and 175 lbs. on the bump today. After surrendering 3 hits in the 1st (including a homer) he settled in and by the 4th he retired the Huskers 1-2-3. He loaded the bases in the 5th and gave up another run before Coach Tollett pulled him after 4.1 innings pitched but getting 4 Ks against Big Red.
Nebraska Baseball
RHP Brady Anderson came in from the Eagle bullpen and surrendered 2 more Big Red runs off bases loaded to move the Huskers on top by 7-0 but handled the Huskers 3 up, 3 down in the 7th and 8th.
Huskers jumped ahead early by 3 runs off a foul pole ruled homer and didn’t look back. A couple of hits and a wild pitch scored another run in the 3rd. In the 5th inning, DH Miller scored another run after bases were loaded. Schreiber had a sac fly that scored another, and then an error by Bottomley scored a second runner for Erstad’s crew. Edrington scored off a single by Boldt in the 6th.
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HUSKER HITTERS: Tanner Lubach came up big in the 1st with a 3RBI homer scoring Schleppenbach and Boldt. It was his 2nd homer of the year. Almost every Husker had at least one hit on the day, except Schreiber and Darby who were both 0/4. Miller was the most consistent of the bunch going 3 for 4 on the day with an RBI. Huskers ended the day with 12 hits.
NOTES: A couple of errors by Headley at 3rd base didn’t cause any real damage but we will consider that just a little early season rust. He gets a free pass given the strength of his bat so far. Reveles was taken out after one at bat and 3 innings due to a nagging hamstring.
Huskers have switched up the game on Sunday to 12:05 due to the travel schedule of FGCU. Husker Corner will have a series wrap up on Monday. In the meantime, GO BIG RED!!!