The Huskers (13-17, 3-7) returned to Lincoln for the start of a three-game conference series against Rutgers (14-16, 4-6) Friday night. Following a quick back-and-forth, Nebraska took the lead and kept the Scarlet Knights at bay, leading to an 8-5 win.
The game entered the third inning tied 5-5 after a fierce start. Rutgers started with a 2-0 lead before the Huskers scored five runs in the first. The Scarlet Knights responded in the second by scoring three. The Huskers outhit the Scarlet Knights 13-12, earning eight RBIs in the process while holding Rutgers to five.
Nebraska took the lead in the fifth, scoring two more runs off a two-RBI single from Riley Silva. The Huskers added one more in the eighth with a Dylan Carey sacrificial fly.
Carey finished 2-for-3, earning a team-high three RBIs. Silva hit 2-for-4 on the night with two RBIs. Hogan Helligso drove in two RBIs off a single in the first. Cael Frost, meanwhile, hit an RBI single in the first as well.
Will Walsh (4-4) got the win on the mound, striking out two while allowing nine hits, five runs, and three walks across 5.0 innings. Drew Christo took over for Walsh, pitching 2.2 shutout frames while throwing three strikeouts.
Luke Broderick picked up his fifth save of the season after throwing the final 1.1 innings. He allowed only one hit.
Nebraska continues its series with Rutgers on Saturday afternoon. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. CT on B1G+.
This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska pulls away to get 8-5 win in series opener against Rutgers
