Swansen home run sparks Nebraska's rally past Rutgers in Big Ten Tournament

OMAHA, Neb. — Gabe Swansen hit a game-tying three-run home run, Brice Matthews drew a bases-loaded walk for the go-ahead run and Nebraska scored six runs in the seventh inning to soar past Rutgers 9-7 on Wednesday in an opening-round game of the Big Ten Tournament.

The Cornhuskers (32-21-1) took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a home run by Charlie Fischer but did not score again until Swansen's home run tied the game at six in the seventh inning. After the walk by Matthews, Casey Burnham was hit by a pitch and Max Anderson drew a walk to give the Cornhuskers three consecutive runs without putting the ball in play.

Rutgers (33-22) got three runs in the fifth to tie it and three in the seventh to go ahead 6-3. Evan Sleight hit a two-run double in the fifth and was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh, giving him three RBIs.

Will Walsh (4-3) pitched the final 1 2/3 innings to get the win and Ben Gorski (1-3), who gave up three runs in the seventh, took the loss for Rutgers.

Nebraska will play Maryland on Thursday. Michigan State awaits Rutgers, also on Thursday.