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Big first inning helps Huskers
clinch series win over Michigan
 Kubat |  Darby |
Kubat, who is 4-0 on the year, improved to 4-0 all-time against the Wolverines in five career starts. The senior lefty now holds a 19-3 career record after allowing one run on six hits and two walks over 7.1 innings of work. Kubat has gone at least 6.0 innings in all five of his starts against the Wolverines, including at least 7.0 inning in each of his last three starts against UM. Kubat's nine strikeouts bettered his previous mark of seven in a win at Indiana during his freshman year in 2012.
At the plate, eight of Nebraska's nine hitters recorded a hit on the afternoon, including a pair of singles from Austin Darby. The senior right-fielder also shined in the field, as he threw out Carmen Benedetti at the plate to end the third inning when the Michigan sophomore tried to score from second base on a base hit by Jake Bivens.
For the second straight game the Huskers jumped on Michigan's starting pitcher by scoring five runs in the first inning. Freshman right hander Ryan Nutof gave up three straight singles to start the game, including a RBI single by Blake Headley that scored the game's first run. Nutof then hit Tanner Lubach to load the bases and Ben Miller drew a four-pitch walk to put the Huskers up 2-0. Darby followed with an RBI single, before Nutof got the first out of the inning on a fielder's choice off the bat of Scott Schreiber. With the bases still loaded, Christian Cox delivered a two-RBI single that pushed NU's lead to 5-0.
Nebraska's first six batters of the game reached base and NU sent 10 batters to the plate in the first. The Huskers were held in check with only four hits the rest of the game, but the 5-0 lead as all Kubat needed.
Michigan's lone run came in the third when Kubat hit Jackson Glines with one out and the senior later scored on a two-out double by Benedetti. Michigan was never able to mount at rally the rest of the way, as they never had the tying run at the plate. After the third, UM notched a total of five base runners.
The Huskers (16-6, 2-0 Big Ten)will go for the series sweep Sunday against Michigan (11-10, 0-2) at 11:05 a.m., with sophomore Derek Burkamper getting the start. Michigan has yet to announce a starter for the series finale.
R H E ------------------------------------------- Michigan............ 001 000 000 - 1 7 1 Nebraska............ 500 000 00x - 5 9 0 -------------------------------------------