Huskers win Sunday to take Series from Iowa
A game-tying two-RBI triple from Pat Kelly followed by a walk-off single from Kale Kiser completed a dramatic ninth-inning comeback by the Nebraska baseball team (22-12, 5-4 Big Ten) on Sunday afternoon at Hawks Field, as the Huskers rallied for a 9-8 win to take the three-game series over the Iowa Hawkeyes, 2-1.
Trailing 8-5 going into the bottom of the ninth, Kash Kalkowski led off with a single and scored following a pair of singles from Richard Stock and Josh Scheffert. Freshman Austin Darby then moved his Scheffert and Stock to second and third, respectively, with a sacrifice bunt, setting the table for Kelly. With just one hit in his previous four at bats on the afternoon and behind in the count, Kelly blasted a 1-2 slider from closer Nick Brown over Kris Goodman's head in center field, tying the game with his second triple of the season. With nearly 3,000 Husker fans on their feet, Kiser came to the plate for his first at bat of the game after coming in as a defensive replacement in the top of the frame and roped an 0-2 pitch for a single into right field that easily scored Kelly from third for the game winner.
The Husker comeback was also made possible by the effort of Travis Huber on the mound, who picked up his first win as a Husker with 1.2 innings of shutout ball. The junior righty came into the game in the eighth with one out and runners on first and second. He retired the next two Hawkeyes to end the inning and was nearly perfect on the afternoon, but gave up a two-out walk in the ninth before striking out Taylor Zeutenhorst to keep Iowa's lead at four.
Kalkowski led the Husker offense on the day by going 3-for-5 at the plate with one RBI, while five other Huskers has a pair of hits. Scheffert notched his fourth home run of the season with a leadoff shot in the bottom of the second to put the Huskers up 2-1.
NU took a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning, but the Hawkeyes posted two runs in the sixth, two more in the seventh and three in the eighth to take a 9-4 lead.
The Huskers cut the Hawkeyes' lead to four in the bottom of the eighth when Darby scored on an RBI groundout by Sanguinetti, his second RBI of the day. After Huber made quick work of the Hawkeyes in the top of the ninth, the Huskers came through with their second walk-off win of the year.
With nine conference games in the books and a pair of series wins, the Huskers now get ready to host the Creighton Bluejays on Tuesday night at Hawks Field. It will be the first of three games between the two in-state programs this season with first pitched schedule for 6:35 p.m.
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Holton man killed in Jackson Co crash
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Cold case investigation leads to Holton warrant
Effingham owner regains truck following theft, arrest
Horton City Clerk's resignation accepted Monday
Local residents avoid injury in chain reaction crash
Former Kickapoo Tribal chairman arrested
90 mph+ downburst winds blamed for Thursday damage
Winchester native named as Amberwell CEO
Wamego man sentenced in second fentanyl-related death
Mayetta pair arrested on meth, child endangerment charges
Stolen trailer, 4-wheeler, recovered in Atchison
Holton property search concludes with arrest
Juveniles face charges following Atchison break-in
Atchison Co's Oswald named honorary bailiff for KS Court
Two arrested following Friday Jackson Co traffic stop
McLouth man injured in Monday wreck
No injuries in early Sunday morning house fire in Falls City
LATEST STORIES
KS prepares for severe weekend weather
Richardson County Board approves pay raise for dispatchers
NPPD urges farmers to be safe around power lines
Arbor Day proclaimed in Atchison
Former AG Schmidt running for KS' 2nd Congressional District
Doniphan Co Commission approves overlay projects
Holton property search concludes with arrest
Former Kickapoo Tribal chairman arrested
RELATED STORIES
Husker Baseball Team Qualifies for Big 10 Tournament
Huskers Beat Wolverines Qualify for Leage Tournament
Husker Basketball Team Will Play Purdue In 1st Round of Big 10 Tourney
Nebraska Baseball Team Downs Creighton
Husker Baseball Team Opens Series with Win
Husker Baseball Team at Home This Weekend
Huskers Drop Series Finale to LA Tech