Kansas City – The Kansas Jayhawks had the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and left them loaded, as freshman Chad Luensmann notched his ninth save of the year to secure a 3-1 victory for the Nebraska baseball team (26-15, 7-5 Big Ten) at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.
Junior Max Knutson produced the top outing of his career, as he struck out five over 5.1 innings, both career highs. The lefty from Arden Hills, Minn., limited the Jayhawks to one run on four hits and two walks. Knutson had never gone more than 4.0 innings in an outing and had twice struck out four, both times in relief. Over his last two appearances Knutson has allowed two runs over 9.1 innings and has struck out seven.
Reece Eddins tossed 1.2 innings of no-hit scoreless relief behind Knutson and matched a career high with three strikeouts. Robbie Palkert tossed a 1-2-3 eighth and freshman Luensmann closed the door in the ninth.
Trailing 3-1 and down to their last out, the Jayhawks got the tying run on base with a single by pinch hitter Owen Taylor. Luensmann then walked pinch hitter Ty Denzer to load the bases before he got Tommy Mirabelli to bounce into an inning-ending ground out.
Nebraska offense needed just five hits on the night to score three runs, as they also drew seven walks and were hit-by-pitch three times. Luis Alvarado led NU with a pair of singles, his 13thmulti-hit game of the season.
After failing to score in the second when they had the bases loaded and one out, the Huskers plated a pair of runs in the top of the third. Scott Schreiber delivered a two-out RBI single that scored Jake Placzek, who was hit-by-pitch earlier in the inning, and a throwing error on the play allowed Jake Meyers and Schreiber to both get into scoring position. The error came back to hurt the Jayhawks, as KU starter Hayden Edwards uncooked a wild pitch that put the Huskers on top 2-0.
Kansas also got on the board in the third, cutting NU’s lead to 2-1. A two-out walk by Knutson put Devin Foyle in scoring position and Michael Tinsley took advantage with a RBI single. Knutson stranded a pair of Jayhawks and limited the damage to one run.
Following a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth from Knutson, NU’s offense stretched its lead to 3-1 with a run in the sixth. Jesse Wilkening worked a leadoff walk and Steven Reveles cashed it in later in the frame with a one-out single. The Huskers went on to load the bases with two outs, but reliever Jackson Goddard got out of the jam with a groundout off the bat of Meyers.
The Huskers now turn their attention to Big Ten play, as they will play a three-game series at Rutgers this weekend. The series opener is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. (CT).