Nebraska lost a 4-run lead and waited more than four hours over two separate weather delays to ultimately drop the deciding game and the series to the Illinois Fighting Illini, losing 5-4 on Sunday.
Colby Gomes stunned the crowd in Champaign with his grand slam in the top of the 3rd. It broke the 0-0 tie and could have allowed Nebraska (20-29 overall, 8-13 Big Ten) to settle into the series-deciding Sunday battle.
However, lightning delayed the game later in the 3rd inning, and play did not resume for about 90 minutes. Illinois (28-20, 14-7) eventually chipped away at Nebraska’s lead, holding NU scoreless after the Gomes granny and scoring a run in the 6th, two more in the 7th, and one more in the 8th to tie it at 4-4.
Then, another delay – this time for over three hours.
Nebraska, desperate for a season-saving win, went quietly in the top of the 9th. With two out in the bottom of the 9th, Corbin Hawkins (L, 0-2) gave up back-to-back singles. The second single was mishandled in the outfield, allowing the Illini runner to score all the way from first and end the game.
It was a cruel twist to an already underachieving season, as the Huskers are on the outside looking in after being picked to repeat as conference champions. Instead, it appears as though the Huskers will miss the Big Ten Tournament altogether, as only the top eight teams qualify for the postseason games in Omaha.
Saturday’s win was a feel-good 11-2 victory. Cam Chick, Max Anderson, and Colby Gomes all homered. After a scoreless first two frames, the Huskers scored in each of the next six innings.
Anderson started the party with a 2-run bomb in the 3rd. Gomes led off the 4th with a solo shot. Anderson struck again in the 5th with a 1-out, 2-run double to make it 5-0. Then Cam Chick smacked a 6th-inning, 2-run dinger, extending the lead to 7-0.
Meanwhile, Husker starter Emmett Olsen (W, 3-3) was cruising on the mound. Olsen powered through 6.2 innings, not allowing either of his two runs until NU already led by a touchdown. He fanned six batters and allowed seven hits as the offense continued to grow the lead.
Koty Frank relieved Olsen, getting the final out of the 7th and all three outs in the 8th.
After striking out 12 times Friday, including five Huskers with multiple Ks, Nebraska’s lineup cut that in half, with no batter striking out more than once.
Game one of the series put Nebraska behind the 8-ball, as they fell 8-3. The Illini scored runs in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 7th innings, with the big blow coming in the form of a Taylor Jackson 3rd-inning 3-run homerun. The Illinois center fielder made it 5-1
Friday starter Shay Schanaman (L, 2-8) went 3.1 innings for the Big Red, yielding seven runs on nine hits. Mason Ornelas did the heavy lifting, scattering one run and five hits over 4.1 innings and saving much of NU’s bullpen for the rest of the weekend.
Core Jackson went 2-4 with two RBIs, and Josh Caron drove in the other run.
Nebraska is tied for 9th with Northwestern. Both teams have 8-13 conference records. 8th place Purdue (9-10) hosts Maryland, and T-6th place Michigan (10-11) hosts Rutgers. The Terps and Scarlet Knights are tied for first place entering the final weekend. T-6th place Indiana (10-11) plays at T-3rd place Iowa this weekend. Northwestern will be at last place Minnesota (5-16), whose only Big Ten series win this year came against Nebraska.
The Huskers host T-11th place Michigan State starting on Thursday to close out the regular season. They will first host Oral Roberts in Lincoln on Tuesday night.