LINCOLN — Luke Roskam’s grand slam powered a six-run third inning and the Nebraska bullpen and defense were nearly flawless in a 7-6 victory to wrap up a two-game series with Northwestern State on Sunday.
The Huskers (11-8) went without an error for just the third time in their last 15 games while three relievers combined to shut out the Demons over the final four innings. Zac Repinski turned in a three-hit day batting out of the leadoff spot as the offense did enough to help NU starter Matt Warren to his third win of the spring.
Nebraska wraps up an eight-game homestand with a 5-3 mark and continues its nonconference schedule with a two-game set at Oral Roberts beginning Tuesday. The Big Red returns home to open Big Ten play on Friday against Minnesota.
One day after defensive lapses did in the Huskers in a 6-2 loss, they bounced back to extend their Sunday unbeaten streak to 16 straight games.
Nebraska ran out to a seemingly comfortable lead with a six-run third inning that saw six hits and 10 batters come to the plate. Mojo Hagge’s RBI groundout and Scott Schreiber’s scoring shot up the middle put the Huskers on the board. Then a Jesse Wilkening single and Angelo Altavilla walk loaded the bases for Roskam, who promptly hammered a 2-2 offering over the wall in right-center field for his first home run of the spring to chase NWSU ace Ridge Heisler.
An Angelo Altavilla sacrifice fly in the seventh pushed the Husker lead to 7-5 when Hagge slid around the tag at home from right fielder Tyler Smith, who threw out a runner there in the first inning.
Warren still hasn’t lasted six innings this season and again wore down late, allowing five total runs in the fourth and fifth frames.
