The Huskers continued to struggle on Sunday and Northwestern won Game 2 convincingly by a score of 10-2.
Nebraska is not doing itself any favors right now. Just a few weeks ago, the Huskers were sitting at the top of the Big Ten and confident about a regional appearance. Since then, the Huskers have dropped three straight conference series and are flirting on the bubble of a regional appearance.
Michigan is starting to separate from the rest of the pack in the conference standings. The Wolverines have won 10 straight conference games, while Indiana and Nebraska have struggled as of late.
The team is in a real funk that started with the offense, seems to be affecting the entire team right now.
“We got outcoached and outplayed in all facets of the game,” Coach Darin Erstad said post-game. “Right now it's a confidence thing.”
Erstad also pointed out that the guys are not having fun at the moment.
“Tomorrow we have to go out and enjoy the game of baseball,” he said.
Nate Fisher went 5.2 innings, giving up nine hits, seven runs and struck out five. Matt Waldron and Fisher have not had their best performances in back-to-back games and you have to wonder if the lack of offense is straining the Husker pitching staff.
Nebraska was outhit 16-3 in Game 2 and has struggled against a Northwestern pitching staff that does not have an impressive ERA.
The Huskers are reaching for anything that can build some momentum at the plate. In Game 2, the coaching staff tried a different batting order that highlighted Aaron Palensky at leadoff and Spencer Schwellenbach at cleanup.
https://twitter.com/Husker_Baseball/status/1125090335498166272
The new lineup looked positive in the first inning, as Nebraska struck first to take a 1-0 lead after back-to-back singles, but it was all Wildcats from there. The Huskers recorded only one more hit the rest of the game.
Nebraska will have the opportunity to salvage a game tomorrow before returning for two home series to close the year. Game 3 with Northwestern is set for 3:30 p.m. CT on Monday.
