(**COURTESY OF K-STATE SPORTS INFORMATION**)
LINCOLN, Neb. – Behind four scoreless innings from starter Brandon Erickson and a two-inning save notched by Jordan Floyd, K-State snapped its four-game losing streak and beat Nebraska, 4-2, on Tuesday at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.
The Wildcats (13-17) held the Huskers (19-9) to their fewest runs in a home game this season by forcing them to strand nine runners. Nebraska, which entered the contest having won 10 of its last 11, was held to 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and 0-for-8 with two outs.
While Erickson turned in four-plus innings of scoreless baseball in his first start of the season, freshmen Cory Wright and Mitch Zubradt helped K-State hold Nebraska to just one run from the fifth through seventh inning. Wright stranded an inherited runner in scoring position in the fifth while Zubradt did not surrender a run of his own over 1 2/3 innings.
Floyd, meanwhile, recorded his first save of the year in his team-leading 15th appearance of the season by getting out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the eighth and working a 1-2-3 ninth. The left-hander entered the game with runners on first and second and after the Huskers scored their second run off Brogan Heinen. After a first-pitch single allowed to the first batter he faced, Jesse Wilkening, Floyd got a force out at home, a strikeout and another force out to halt Nebraska’s biggest threat.
“We played good defense – that helped out a bunch – and some young guys on the mound really came through for us,” said K-State head coach Brad Hill. “Erickson gave us a good start, number one. A senior going out there and throwing up zeros (on the scoreboard). And then Jordan came in and really saved the day for us.”
The win also snapped K-State’s three-game losing streak to Nebraska as it was its first win in the series since April 9, 2014 in Lincoln. The two runs were the fewest runs allowed against the Huskers since 2013.
K-State out-hit Nebraska, 9-8, which was helped by three hits by Tyler Moore and two from Jake Scudder. Scudder’s first hit of the night was his third home run of the year, a line drive over the right field wall to give K-State a 1-0 lead in the second. Moore capped his three-hit effort with a two-out RBI single in the seventh that made it 4-1.
Following Scudder’s solo home run in the second off Nebraska starting pitcher Jake Meyers, the Wildcats extended their lead to three runs with a run in the fourth and one in the sixth. In the fourth, Tyler Wolfe used his only hit of the night to drive in Scudder, who reached on a single. Later in the sixth, Nebraska’s lone error – a throwing mistake by pitcher Reece Eddins to second base that would have started a potential inning-ending double play – allowed Moore to score from second and Scudder to reach third.
The Huskers cut the Wildcats’ lead to two in the bottom of the sixth when Wright sandwiched a pop out with two walks. Zubradt was summoned to relieve Wright with runners on first and second, and after allowing a first-pitch RBI single to Wilkening, the right-handed freshman struck out two to end the threat.
Wright entered the game in fifth when Erickson allowed a leadoff double. The left-hander worked the Wildcats out of the jam unscathed, though, by inducing a fly out, groundout and another fly out to strand the Huskers then-fourth runner of the game.
“Wright and Zubradt made some big pitches,” said Hill. “I was really proud, especially Zubradt who has been struggling a little bit. We need him, and he’s really good – and getting better.”
Erickson finished the night scattering five hits and one walk while striking out two to earn his first win of the season. The right-hander stranded three runners, picked off another and used one of K-State’s two double plays to work around the six baserunners. In the first, back-to-back one-out singles were negated when he struck out consecutive batters to leave runners on the corners.
“We were solid defensively,” said Hill. “That’s what has been kind of beating us. We also pitched through some walks. We were able to minimize some bad walks and played good defense, which is what we have not been doing.”
Meyers was tagged with the loss after the left-hander allowed two runs on five hits and a walk over 3 1/3 innings.
K-State now returns home for a three-game Big 12 series against Texas at Tointon Family Stadium. First game of the set is on Friday at 6:35 p.m.
