Northwestern
7-24, 1-7
Nebraska
22-9, 7-1
Northwestern Rallies on Home Runs, Falls Just Short to Nebraska
4/9/2016 6:17:00 PM | Baseball
Northwestern (7-24, 1-7 B1G) scored five runs in the seventh and eighth innings on Hoscheit's homers to rally from an 8-2 deficit. Nebraska (22-9, 7-1 B1G) leaned on Ryan Boldt, Scott Schreiber and Steven Reveles for its offense today as the trio each tallied two RBIs.
The Wildcats outhit the Huskers, 14-9, on the afternoon. This was the 16th time this season that Northwestern has tallied 10-or-more hits in a game.
Dan Kubiuk (0-3) started on the mound for Northwestern and went 3.0 innings, allowing five runs on four hits. Reece Eddins (4-1) entered the game for starter Jake McSteen in the fifth inning and tossed 3.0 to earn the victory.
Chad Luebsmann picked up his seventh save for the Huskers.
After Northwestern allowed a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, Hopfner tied the ball game up in the top of the third with one swing of the bat. The home run was Hopfner's second of the season and third of his career. He finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored.
Nebraska scored six unanswered runs over the course of the next four innings.
With the 'Cats down by six runs, Hopfner drew a one-out walk in the top of the seventh to get aboard for Hoscheit's first shot and begin the comeback. Connor Lind, who went 3-for-5 in the contest, and Jack Claeys followed with a single and double, respectively, but the Wildcats could not get them across.
Jack Dunn hit a single to the left side with two outs and Hopfner reached base on an error to put runners on the corners for Hoscheit in the top of the eighth. After working the count to 1-1, the St. Charles, Illinois, native unleashed on a pitch over the left field fence.
The home runs were Hoscheit's fourth and fifth of the season; he now has 12 jacks for his career.
The Wildcats received great performances from their bullpen on the afternoon. Tyler Lass entered in the fourth inning, with no outs and a runner on first and third, and recorded two strikeouts and a pop fly to get out of the jam. Lass threw two more innings and finished with a career-high four strikeouts.
Justin Yoss and Mack Rosman pitched the seventh and eighth frames for Northwestern. Both pitchers went three up, three down in their respective innings and Yoss tallied a strikeout.
Northwestern went three up, three down in the ninth inning to end the game.
The Wildcats and Huskers will meet for the series finale tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. CT. Senior LHP Jake Stolley will make his third start of the season.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Eddins, R. (4-1)
L: Kubiuk, Dan (0-3)
S: Luensmann, C (7)
Batting:
2B: Claeys, Jack 1
HR: Hopfner, Matt 1 ; Hoscheit, Joe 2
RBI: Hopfner, Matt 2 ; Hoscheit, Joe 5
Base Running:
RUNS: Dunn, Jack 2 ; Hopfner, Matt 3 ; Hoscheit, Joe 2
SB: Bourbon, Willie 1
Batting:
2B: Boldt, R. 1 ; Schreiber, S 1 ; Reveles, S. 1
3B: Dilday, E. 1
RBI: Boldt, R. 2 ; Schreiber, S 2 ; Meyers, J. 1 ; Reveles, S. 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Boldt, R. 2 ; Placzek, J. 2 ; Dilday, E. 1 ; Fish, T. 1 ; Schleppenbac 1 ; Reveles, S. 1
SB: Boldt, R. 2 ; Placzek, J. 1
HBP: Fish, T. 1
PO: Reveles, S. 1
