Nebraska Tops Spartans, 4-1

Sunday, May 11

East Lansing, Mich.

1:05 PM

Michigan State University

26-22, 0

Nebraska

34-17, 0

Nebraska

Michigan State

5/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 11, 2014

Box Score

EAST LANSING - A two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning by Michael Pritchard broke a 1-1 tie and helped Nebraska defeat the Michigan State baseball team, 4-1, on Sunday afternoon at McLane Baseball Stadium. MSU is now 26-22 overall and 8-12 in the Big Ten.

Nebraska starting pitcher Aaron Bummer limited the Spartans to just four hits as the Huskers improved to 34-17 and 15-5 in the Big Ten.

"You have to tip your hat to Nebraska," said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. "They made plays when they had to and the margin for error is very slim against a good ball club. We have to keep competing and figure out a way to win tomorrow."

Nebraska took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI groundout by Steven Reveles, but the Spartans responded to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning.

Ryan Richardson led off the bottom of the third with a double into the gap in right center field and then moved over to third base on a sacrifice bunt toward first base by Johnny Nate. Justin Hovis then tied the game at one with a sac fly to deep left field.

MSU starting pitcher Justin Alleman retired 11 of 12 Huskers until one out in the top of the sixth when Jake Placzek drew a full-count walk. Pritchard then belted the game-changing two-run homer over the right field wall to give the Huskers a 3-1 lead.

A leadoff walk to Jimmy Pickens followed by a Joel Fisher single in the seventh gave the Spartans their biggest threat since the third inning. Pickens stole third to give MSU runners on the corners, but Bummer was able to then suppress the Spartan rally, getting Ryan Krill to pop out to first base and then inducing a ground ball off the bat of Richardson. The third baseman Placzek picked up the ball hit by Richardson and eventually tagged out Pickens after a rundown. A pop out by Nate ended the inning.

The Spartans put pressure on Nebraska again in the bottom of the eighth as Cam Gibson reached on an infield single and Anthony Cheky drew a walk. It looked like Blaise Salter would tie the game when he drilled a ball into right center field, but right fielder Austin Darby made a diving catch for the out and the Spartans eventually came away empty in the inning.

Nebraska added an insurance run with two outs in the top of the ninth. Ben Miller's single dropped just inside the left field line, scoring Reveles.

Josh Roeder earned his 12th save of the season to close the game in the bottom of the ninth.

Alleman went 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs off five hits in taking the loss to fall to 5-2.

Bummer improved to 6-3 with the win.

The two teams are scheduled to complete the series tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. The game will air live on BTN.