OKLAHOMA CITY (KMTV) — The Nebraska baseball team rallied from an early 4-1 deficit to defeat UCONN on Friday for its first win in the NCAA Tournament in five years, 8-5. The victory marked the Big Red's first in a regional opener since 2008.
Afterwards, a passionate Robbie Palkert had some strong words about the win.
"I have been to three regionals, and up until now we were 0-4, and we were pissed off. I think all of us kind of put that on our backs, and we were saying, 'We're done with this,'" Palkert said. "We hate seeing in the news 'Darin Erstad can't win a regional game.' That's just not true. This team can win baseball games. This team can win a regional."
The Huskers will now play the winner of Oklahoma State and Harvard on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Oklahoma City. NU struck out a season-high 16 times but rallied to advance to the winner's bracket. Robbie Palkert threw 3.1 innings of scoreless relief after starter Nate Fisher gave up five runs on 13 hits.
Angelo Altavilla went 2-for-5 with 2 RBI including a solo homer in the top of the 2nd that started the NU rally. Spencer Schwellenbach went 2-for-3 with an RBI as well.
