Sanderson’s Walk-Off Blast Lifts Huskers to Series Win

Case Sanderson drilled a first-pitch, three-run walk-off home run into the parking lot beyond right field in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Huskers to a 5-2 win over Michigan on Saturday afternoon in front of 5,832 fans at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.

Nebraska (26-25, 13-13 Big Ten) scored five runs on six hits , while Michigan (31-19, 14-12 Big Ten) totaled two runs and five hits.

Sanderson led the Huskers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Riley Silva had a 2-for-4 afternoon, while Hogan Helligso was 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBI. Dylan Carey was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Ty Horn tossed six strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits with four punchouts and a pair of walks. Will Walsh pitched 2.1 innings in relief and retired all seven batters faced while recording three strikeouts. Luke Broderick improved to 3-2 on the year after recording two outs in the top of the ninth inning.

Michigan broke the scoreless deadlock in the top of the fourth inning with one run on just one hit. A one-out triple down the right-field line set the table for a sacrifice fly to deep left that gave the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.

The Huskers grabbed their first lead of the day in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of runs on two hits. Carey lined a double down the left-field line, before Helligso smacked a two-run homer just inside the foul pole in left field to give Nebraska a 2-1 lead. Michigan challenged the home run and the call was upheld, prompting an ejection of Michigan head coach Tracy Smith.

The Wolverines responded immediately with a first-pitch solo home run to right field to begin the sixth inning to tie the game at two.

The two teams exchanged scoreless seventh and eighth innings to send a 2-2 game into the top of the ninth inning.

Broderick worked around a two-out single in the top of the ninth to keep it tied at two going into the bottom of the ninth.

The Huskers had runners on first and second with one out after Cael Frost was plunked on 1-0 count and Gabe Swansen drew a full-count walk. Following a pitching change, Sanderson blasted the first pitch he saw into the parking lot beyond right field to give the Huskers a 5-2 win on Saturday afternoon.

Nebraska and Michigan conclude the series tomorrow at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park. First pitch between the Huskers and Wolverines is set for 11:32 a.m. on B1G+.