LINCOLN, Neb. — South Dakota State outfielder Thatcher Kozal hit three-run home runs in both of the eighth and ninth innings to spearhead a 10-6 come-from-behind victory over Nebraska in nonconference baseball action Wednesday night at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.
In defeating the Cornhuskers for the second year in a row, SDSU ended a five-game losing streak and improved to 18-25 overall. Nebraska dropped to 30-17.
Trailing 6-2 through seven innings, Kozal started the Jackrabbits on the comeback trail with a three-run blast to right field after Dawson Parry singled and Adam Benes reached on an error.
SDSU struck for five runs in the top of the ninth on five consecutive hits. After Reece Anderson lined out to lead off the inning, Cade Stuff singled to center field and Cael Frost legged out an infield single to third base that was later confirmed by video review. Parry then stroked a single through the right side that plated Stuff to tie the game at 6-all.
The Jackrabbits grabbed their first lead of the night when Adam Benes lined a single down the third-base line to bring home Cael Frost.
Kozal, from nearby Waverly, Nebraska, then stepped to the plate and won the lefty versus lefty matchup against Grant Cleavinger by launching another deep drive well over the wall in right for what would be the final tally. Kozal’s four hits and six runs batted in were both career highs.
Nebraska would load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Jackrabbit reliever Dylan Driessen struck out pinch hitter Josh Caron to end the game. Driessen struck out the side in the ninth inning and finished his two-inning stint with four strikeouts.
Seven different pitchers went to the mound for the Jackrabbits in the game. Starter Alex Clemons lasted only one-third of an inning as he was pulled after issuing four consecutive walks to allow Nebraska to take an early 1-0 lead.
SDSU tied the game at 1-all in the second inning when Kozal doubled and Jess Bellows followed with a run-scoring single. The Jackrabbit lead would be short-lived, however, as Joshua Overbeek hit a solo home run in the home half of the frame.
The Cornhuskers would build their lead to 6-2 with single runs in each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
A double by Anderson in the fifth inning plated Tyson Kogel for the other Jackrabbit run in the first seven innings of the contest.
SDSU finished with a 14-12 advantage in hits. Besides Kozal’s four hits, Parry notched three hits, with Anderson and Bellows each collecting two.
Rhett Stokes led the Cornhuskers with a 3-for-5 night at the plate.
Nebraska starter Jackson Brockett, who pitched a no-hitter against Kansas State in his last outing, struck out two over three innings of one-run baseball. Casey Daiss took the loss for the Cornhuskers, who used 10 pitchers in the game.
UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits return home to open a three-game Summit League series Friday against North Dakota State. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Erv Huether Field.
NOTES
- Nebraska leads the all-time series, 18-4
- The Jackrabbits won a game in their last at-bat for the fifth time this season
- Kozal turned in the second two-home run game of his Jackrabbit career, with the other coming in the first game of a home doubleheader against Omaha on April 16, 2023
- Kozal’s six RBIs, four hits and 11 total bases are all tied for the most by a Jackrabbit player in a game this season
- Clemons made his first start of the season and third of his career
- Driessen made his team-leading 21st appearance of the season