• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Lost Prairie Press

Lost Prairie Press

Trending News from the Midwest - IA, IL, KS, MO, NE

  • Home
  • MIDWEST
  • ILLINOIS
  • IOWA
  • KANSAS
  • MISSOURI
  • NEBRASKA
  • About Us
    • Contact Us

Hogs go wild late to knock Huskers out of NCAA Tournament

{{featured_button_text}}

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Arkansas’ Charlie Welch watches his three-run homer take flight in the eighth inning against Nebraska on Monday in Fayetteville, Ark.

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska’s Luke Roskam bats during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska’s Cade Povich throws a pitch against Arkansas during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

Chris Basnett

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas had Superman on the mound, and a powder keg of bats in its dugout waiting to blow.

And while Kevin Kopps wore his cape, the Razorbacks exploded to end Nebraska’s year.

Arkansas’ all-world reliever threw 90 pitches in his third relief appearance of the weekend — and 185 overall in the regional — and pinch-hitter Charlie Welch smashed a titanic three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning as the No. 1-ranked Hogs downed Nebraska 6-2 in the Fayetteville Regional final.

“That’s the loudest I’ve ever heard this stadium,” said Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn after the game.

Steven M. Sipple: Sure, the loss stings, but Huskers' late-season uprising something to behold

'You got to have that fight': Huskers force winner-take-all regional final with gritty win over No. 1 Arkansas

The man who turned Nebraska baseball into a winner more than 20 years ago before heading south has seen more big moments than most. His words spoke to how hard Nebraska pushed the Razorbacks on their home field.

“When I saw them pop up (during the NCAA selection show) I thought, ‘Why are they sending the Big Ten champion here?'” Van Horn said. “They came in here and they were a little bit comfortable. More comfortable than I wanted them to be. I knew it was going to be hard to get by them.”

Nebraska, which forced Monday’s winner-take-all game with a 5-3 upset Sunday night, took a 2-0 lead into the fifth inning, and the Baum Stadium crowd, rowdy all weekend, was abuzz with the nervous energy that often sinks the favorite when the pressure is on.

“It was crazy. It’s the only place we’ve played away this year that had more than 200, 300 people. So we kind of embraced it,” said NU left-hander Cade Povich. “With all the stuff that was going on, we just kind of took it under, and we decided we were going to be the team that was going to make the upset happen.

“It’s just unfortunate that it didn’t happen.”

Solo home runs in the fifth and sixth innings, Arkansas’ 100th and 101st of the season, tied the game. The first came from the bat of Casey Opitz, the younger brother of former Husker Jake Opitz. That fifth-inning shot jolted Arkansas’ dugout, Van Horn said, and set the stage for the Razorbacks’ rally.

Year 2 for Will Bolt ended with a 34-14 record, a Big Ten championship and a team meeting in shallow right field after NU came perhaps within inches of pushing the No. 1 overall national seed to the bottom of the ninth or beyond.

With two outs in the eighth inning, the Huskers couldn’t corral a foul tip from Christian Franklin that would have been strike three and gotten the game to the ninth.

Support Local Journalism

Your membership makes our reporting possible.

{{featured_button_text}}

Instead, Franklin fouled off four two-strike pitches and worked a walk. Another walk followed. And a third walk after that as NU relievers threw 11 consecutive pitches that were called balls.

The 11th of those was wild, scoring a run and giving Arkansas (49-11) its first lead of the game.

The next offering landed in a delirious Hog Pen fan area in left field as Welch, now 8-for-12 with six RBIs as a pinch hitter this season, put Arkansas ahead 6-2 with a three-run shot.

“Unfortunately a couple innings have gotten away from us this weekend, and that was the difference in two losses — the walks, the wild pitches, and obviously the big swing there at the end,” Bolt said.

That made the ninth inning a little more than a formality for Kopps, who retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced. Only a hit batter in the ninth ruined his perfect final four innings.

Like Sunday night, it didn’t take long for Nebraska to quiet the crowd.

Luke Roskam destroyed a Jaxon Wiggins pitch to lead off the second inning, flipping his bat and taking a moment to admire his titanic shot over the NU bullpen to make it 1-0.

The Huskers tacked on another in the third as Mojo Hagge and Logan Foster worked walks to start the inning and knock Wiggins out of the game.

Those walks brought Van Horn out of the Arkansas dugout and calling for Kopps. After a Joe Acker sacrifice bunt moved the runners, a Jaxon Hallmark groundout brought in Hagge to put NU up 2-0.

But Kopps gave Arkansas’s offense valuable time.

One of the best power lineups in the nation, which had managed one home run while collecting five and four hits against Nebraska in the teams’ previous two meetings, cut the lead in half on Casey Opitz’s solo shot, and tied it one inning later with Robert Moore’s solo homer.

Despite the loss, Nebraska appears to be on the verge of a step forward as a program.

“It shows we’re here,” Povich said. “And we’re going to be here for a while.”

Photos: Game 7 in Fayetteville — Huskers and Razorbacks battle for trip to Super Regionals

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

The Huskers huddle before an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

The Huskers huddle before an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

The Huskers huddle before an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

The Nebraska baseball team is shown before an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska’s Efry Cervantes warms up before an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska pitcher Chance Hroch and catcher Gunner Hellstrom chat before an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

The Huskers celebrate Luke Roskam’s solo home run during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

The Huskers celebrate Luke Roskam’s home run during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska fans cheer during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska second baseman Cam Chick fields a groundball at second base for an out during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska’s Cade Povich throws a pitch during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska pitcher Cade Povich is greeted by teammates after departing an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska’s Griffin Everitt bats during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska pitcher Cam Wynne throws during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska pitcher Cam Wynne throws a pitch during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska’s Luke Roskam bats during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Arkansas’ Robert Moore celebrates a game-tying home run against Nebraska in an NCAA regional final Monday in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Arkansas’ Christian Franklin is greeted after scoring the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning against Nebraska in an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

POOL VIA SEC MEDIA

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska players embrace after a loss to Arkansas in an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

Z LONG, Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska players react after the final out of a loss to Arkansas in an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

Z LONG, Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska players react after the final out of a loss to Arkansas in an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

Z LONG, Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska’s Jaxon Hallmark connects to drive in a run against Arkansas during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

Z LONG, Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Arkansas’ Casey Opitz rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Nebraska during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

Z LONG, Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska’s Brice Matthews throws to put out an Arkansas runner during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

Z LONG, Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Arkansas’ Casey Opitz reacts after hitting a home run against Nebraska during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

Z LONG, Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska vs. Arkansas, 6.7

Nebraska’s Cade Povich throws a pitch against Arkansas during an NCAA regional final Monday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.

Z LONG, Omaha World-Herald

Contact the writer at cbasnett@journalstar.com or 402-473-7436. On Twitter @HuskerExtraCB.

0 Comments

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

View Source

Filed Under: NEBRASKA

Primary Sidebar

More to See

july-4-star-spangled-spectacular-returns-with-fireworks-show

July 4 Star Spangled Spectacular returns with fireworks show

The Overland Park Star Spangled Spectacular returns to Corporate Woods Founders’ Park, 9711 W. 109th Street., on Monday, July 4. This year’s event includes concerts, food trucks and a fireworks … [Read More...] about July 4 Star Spangled Spectacular returns with fireworks show

6-things-to-do-this-weekend-in-kc:-june-23-26-2022

6 Things To Do This Weekend In KC: June 23-26 2022

PARKED Festival This weekend marks the fourth annual PARKED food truck festival in Shawnee. This Friday evening, the city of Shawnee will host several food trucks, local vendors, a beer garden, a live … [Read More...] about 6 Things To Do This Weekend In KC: June 23-26 2022

how-therapy-focused-on-eye-movement-can-help-faster-than-‘talk-therapy’

How therapy focused on eye movement can help faster than ‘talk therapy’

Not all therapy is talk therapy. In 1987, Francine Shapiro began developing a new therapy called EMD, or Eye Movement Desensitization, using bilateral eye stimulation to lessen the effects of negative … [Read More...] about How therapy focused on eye movement can help faster than ‘talk therapy’

why-the-landmark-imperial-brewery-downtown-will-soon-face-the-wrecking-ball

Why the landmark Imperial Brewery downtown will soon face the wrecking ball

Kansas City has long loved local lager. The vacant Imperial Brewery Co. building looming ominously over I-35, just south of downtown Kansas City, is proof. Built in 1902, at its zenith the six-story … [Read More...] about Why the landmark Imperial Brewery downtown will soon face the wrecking ball

what’s-fresh-at-the-overland-park-farmers’-market-this-week

What’s Fresh at the Overland Park Farmers’ Market this week

The Overland Park Farmers Market has a huge variety of vendors/Courtesy photo The Overland Park Farmers’ Market connects small farmers from the area with food lovers in a vibrant … [Read More...] about What’s Fresh at the Overland Park Farmers’ Market this week

Footer

WELCOME!

Thanks for visiting Lost Prairie Press!

We hope you’ll enjoy news and perspective from the Midwest – specifically, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Missouri.

About/Contact

Privacy Policy

Recent

  • July 4 Star Spangled Spectacular returns with fireworks show
  • How therapy focused on eye movement can help faster than ‘talk therapy’
  • 6 Things To Do This Weekend In KC: June 23-26 2022

Search

Copyright © 2022 · Lost Prairie Press