Nebraska baseball outhit by Ohio State as Buckeyes even series

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jacob Barnwell had three hits, including a three-run home run that propelled Ohio State to a 7-4 Big Ten win over Nebraska on Saturday afternoon.

The Buckeyes led 1-0 with two on and two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Barnwell delivered the game’s key hit, a three-run homer to left field. Ohio State (18-8, 1-1) led the rest of the way, but the Huskers (14-13, 2-3) kept the pressure on.

Nebraska, which won Friday’s series opener 7-3, scored twice in the fifth when Jaxon Hallmark delivered an RBI triple and later scored on a wild pitch.

After Ohio State got a two-out RBI double from Noah McGowan to make it 5-2 in the fifth, Nebraska scored single runs in the sixth and seventh.

Scott Schrieber hit a solo home run in the sixth. It was his eighth this season and 34th of his career, tying him for ninth on NU’s all-time chart.

Nebraska then missed out on a golden opportunity in the seventh. With two on and no outs, Mike Addante put down a sacrifice bunt. Ohio State third baseman Conner Pohl threw wildly to first, allowing a run to score and leaving runners at second and third with no outs.

But Ohio State reliever Griffan Smith got a comebacker and a flyout to shallow left field from the next two batters. After intentionally walking Schrieber, Jesse Wilkening grounded out to end the threat.

Ohio State tacked on insurance runs in the seventh and eighth, while NU, which was outhit 13-5, went down in order in its final two innings.

Starter Matt Waldron allowed five runs in six innings and was tagged with the loss.

The series finale will begin 11 a.m. Sunday on KNCY 1600 AM, 105.5 FM in Nebraska City.

Share: