OMAHA, Neb.—Eventual Big Ten Champion Nebraska used shutout pitching by two relievers and a clutch two-run home run by Gabe Swansen to outlast No. 9 seed Penn State in the BIG Semifinal on Saturday, May 24, afternoon in Omaha.
After the Nittany Lions took out Washington, 5-3, on Thursday, May 22 and USC, 2-1, on Friday, May 23, in Pool Play, they briefly took a one-run lead in the fourth inning over the Huskers.
But Nebraska regained the lead in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double and an RBI fielder’s choice and then advanced to the Final after Swansen’s homer.
Penn State pulled to within 2-1 in the third inning on an RBI double by Paxton Kling, and then went ahead in the fourth, 4-3, on home runs by Jesse Jaconski and Matt Maloney.
The Huskers went to the bullpen after Maloney’s blast over the right field wall, and that proved to be the turning point in the game.
Relievers Drew Christo and Luke Broderick combined to throw 5.2 innings of no-run, five-hit baseball with seven strikeouts.
The Lions, despite putting nine men on base in the last five innings, were unable to push across a run after the fourth inning.
And with the score still 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Swansen’s home run gave the Huskers all the insurance runs they needed.
Penn State collected nine hits total in the game, including four for extra bases. Cohl Mercado’s double broke the Penn State record for doubles in a season at 111.
The No. 8 seeded Nebraska went on to shut out No. 2 UCLA, 5-0, in the Final on Sunday, May 25, to win the title and earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
“I am proud of this ballclub,” Penn State head coach Mike Gambino said. “They have done a really good job of moving this program forward over the past two years.
“I said to the boys that in two years we’ve gone from a program that hoped to make the Big Ten Tournament to one that is disappointed in not winning it.
“To get a chance to be in that dugout and see how close this program has become, and I’m really proud of that.”
On Thursday, May 22, Penn State edged Washington, 5-3, in the first Pool Play game after RBIs by Jesse Jaconski, Molinaro, Mercado and a home run by Ryan Weingartner in the sixth inning.
Washington scored two runs in the eighth inning and another in the ninth to pull to within 5-3, but Lion reliever Matt VanOstenbridge was able to get the final out and secure the victory.
The next day, Penn State and USC locked in a pitcher’s duel that was ultimately settled by Nate Voss’s ninth-inning home run that gave the Lions a 2-1 victory.
Five Penn State pitchers held the Trojans to seven hits and one run with Chase Renner taking the save with a perfect ninth inning.
Logan Olson started and gave up one run in four innings, and he was followed by Ben DeMell, Matt Morash, Dimone Loosli and Renner. Loosli took the win after giving up one hit in 2.1 innings of work.
The two wins gave Penn State the pool win and advanced the Lions into the BIG Semifinals.
Penn State finished the tournament with a record of 33-22 overall and 15-15 in the Big Ten.
