Huskers’ 40-win season comes to an end after giving up 17 runs to Florida

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Nebraska baseball team’s season ended Sunday afternoon after losing to Florida 17-11 in the Stillwater regional.

This is the second time the Huskers have fallen to the Gators in the tournament, as they lost 5-2 in their first matchup on Friday.

Nebraska couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the game.

Gabe Swansen continued his scorching-hot home run streak with a two-run bomb in the top of the first inning, giving the Huskers a 2-0 head start.

Swansen again led the Huskers from the plate, driving in two runs with a home run and a double.

The Gators answered back immediately.

A wild pitch from starting pitcher Jackson Brockett scored a run, while a base hit to right field by Colby Shelton scored another, tying the game at 2.

The Huskers carried their momentum into the second inning, getting a two-run shot from Joshua Overbeek to put Nebraska back up by 2.

Florida’s bats stayed hot.

Two hits from Dale Thomas and Brody Donay in the bottom of the second inning led to an RBI single from Michael Robertson, cutting Nebraska’s lead to 1.

Jac Caglianone cleared the bases with a moonshot home run down the right-field line to give Florida a 6-4 lead.

Brockett was done in the second inning after hitting a batter and putting runners on the corners.

Nebraska’s Kyle Froelich entered the game and gave up an RBI single after a dropped ball in left field by Swansen, making the score 7-4.

The scoring slowed after the second inning, and a lightning delay in the fifth inning halted play for almost two hours.

Nebraska used the break to take a step back and let the moment sink in.

In the top of the sixth inning, a walk from Ben Columbus and a single from Rhett Stokes gave Dylan Carey the opportunity to smoke a two-run double down the left-field line, cutting Florida’s lead to 1.

The Gators’ bats didn’t cool off with the rain.

Casey Daiss walked a batter in the bottom of the sixth inning, allowing Caglianone to rope one to left field and score the runner all the way from first, making the score 8-6 in Florida’s favor.

Tyler Shelnut hit a two-run single through the center of the diamond, then moved to second on an error by center fielder Riley Silva.

Shelnut came around to score after a single from Thomas made the score 11-6 at the end of the sixth inning.

The Gators continued to pour on runs in the seventh inning, sending nine batters to the plate.

Ashton Wilson hit an RBI single to left field to make the score 12-6.

Colby Shelton flexed his power with a three-run homer to left field, extending the Gators’ lead to 9.

Luke Heyman followed up that homer with one of his own, hitting a solo shot to center field.

The third Florida home run of the seventh inning came from Thomas to give the Gators a 17-6 lead.

Nebraska tried to chip away in the eighth inning.

Clay Bradford drove in a run off a double to left-center field, while Overbeek drove in two off a single to center field, making the score 17-9.

More runs came across the plate for Nebraska in the ninth inning.

Columbus grounded out to first base, scoring Josh Caron. Stokes doubled down the left field line to score another run, making the score 17-11.

Several Husker batters did all they could to keep their season alive.

Overbeek, Columbus, and Stokes all finished the game with two hits, while Overbeek led the team in RBIs with four.

The Huskers’ pitching staff struggled to keep their squad in the game.

Brockett gave up 7 runs on six hits, while Daiss surrendered 4 runs on four hits.

Kyle Perry gave up the three home runs in the seventh inning, while only striking out one.

The Gators were led by Shelton with three hits and four RBIs, while Thomas posted three hits and two RBIs.

Caglianone also finished the game with four RBIs.

This is the most runs that Florida has scored in regional game since scoring 24 in 2015.

Nebraska gave up 19 runs in 2005, making this the second most runs given up in a Regional in school history.

The Gators will have to beat Oklahoma State twice if they want to advance to a Super Regional. The first matchup between the two squads will be Sunday night.