Back-to-back home runs propel Rutgers to series win over Huskers

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Rutgers used a four-run fifth inning to grab the lead and went on to an 8-4 win over Nebraska on Sunday afternoon.

Nebraska (17-21, 4-9 Big Ten), which had 19 hits in a win Saturday, lost two of three in the series. The Huskers have not won back-to-back games since sweeping a doubleheader against Cal Poly on March 10.

Nebraska led midway through Sunday’s game. In the top of the fifth inning, Jesse Wilkening broke a 2-2 tie with an RBI single, then Luke Roskam drove in Wilkening with a double.

But with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Rutgers hit back-to-back home runs from Nick Matera and Carmen Sclafani. Matera’s homer was a three-run shot and put the Scarlet Knights ahead for good. Matera finished with five RBIs as he also had a two-run single in the third.

Scott Schreiber gave Nebraska an early lead with a two-run home run in the third. It was his 13th this season and 39th of his career. Mojo Hagge added two hits and scored twice.

Reliever Jake McSteen (1-2) allowed the two fifth-inning home runs and was tagged with the loss.

Nebraska will play its next seven games at Haymarket Park. The Huskers face Creighton at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday before starting a three-game series with Nevada on Thursday.

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