Pinch runner Riley Smith dashed home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Gophers a 3-2 victory over Nebraska on Sunday and a split of their doubleheader at Siebert Field. Nebraska won the first game 10-1.
The Gophers (11-14, 4-1 Big Ten) won two of three in their series with the Cornhuskers (13-9, 4-2).
Jordan Kozicky drove in three Gophers runs in the doubleheader. He homered in the first game, hit a two-run single in the second game, and was walked intentionally before the Huskers threw the game-ending wild pitch with Cole McDevitt at the plate.
Brett Schulze (4-0) got the Game 2 win after recording a strikeout to end the Nebraska ninth.
• The Gophers added a game against defending Upper Midwest tournament champion Bethany Lutheran to their home schedule, at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Siebert Field.
Brandner stars in U sweep
The Gophers swept a softball doubleheader and completed a weekend series sweep of Purdue, winning 5-1 and 8-2 at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
Hope Brandner went 4-for-4 for with three walks, three RBI, a double and two home runs in the doubleheader.
Sydney Smith (8-3) allowed a first-inning run in the opener but nothing after that, retiring the final six batters in her fifth complete game.
Brandner hit a first-inning home run and an RBI single in the fourth that helped the Gophers build a 4-0 lead in Game 2. Natalie DenHartog's team-leading 11th home run closed the scoring in the sixth. DenHartog went 4-for-7 with five RBI in the series. Amber Fiser (15-6) struck out 13.
Etc.
• No. 1 Ohio State, with its top five singles players ranked in the top 110 and two top-25 doubles duos, swept the Gophers 7-0 in men's tennis in Columbus, Ohio.
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