As Oregon baseball’s fielders sprinted into the dugout after the sixth inning to celebrate starter Will Sanford’s career-high 12th strikeout, its momentum swing had game-winning potential. That potential was eventually realized through back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the inning, but only after a 1-hour, 45-minute rain delay and a comeback bid from No. 19 Nebraska.

“We didn’t feel like we came out of rain delays or played through challenging conditions very successfully last year, and we really tried to make that adjustment, so I was pleased with the way they came out,” Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski said. “I mean, if we didn’t do that, we wouldn’t have won.”

The time spent waiting out the rain in the Player Development Area added to Oregon’s (25-9, 9-4 Big Ten) long wait for its first ranked win. In the end, Nebraska (26-8, 11-2 Big Ten) couldn’t overcome back-to-back home runs from Brayden Jaksa (2-4, 2 RBI, HR) and Ryan Cooney, and its comeback bid was stopped at 7-6.

Cornhuskers leadoff hitter Mac Moyer, who came into the series leading the Big Ten in batting average at .406, raised his average with a double off a Sanford fastball. Although Sanford sequenced his fastball and curveball comfortably in the first inning, a groundout advanced Moyer to third base, and shortstop Dylan Carey gave Nebraska a 1-0 lead with a groundball single through the left side.

Sanford left two baserunners stranded in the second and third innings, while Nebraska starter Ty Horn worked around back-to-back walks to open the second, and another leadoff walk in the third.

The Ducks finally broke through in the fourth inning, but not before two light flyouts threatened to waste Drew Smith’s leadoff single. Burke-Lee Mabeus kept the inning going with a single up the middle, and redshirt freshman Naulivou Lauaki Jr. showcased the confidence he gained from his breakout performance on Tuesday by crushing a first-pitch slider to give Oregon a 2-1 lead.

“I knew my capability from the get-go, Waz brought me here for a reason, and I was just waiting for my chance, and I’m grateful that Waz has given me a chance, but I’ll continue to keep playing my role and earning my spot,” Lauaki said.

Nebraska’s response took just one pitch, as Moyer jumped on a 92 mph fastball from Sanford for his second home run of the season. 

Cornhuskers head coach Will Bolt opted for reliever Tucker Timmerman in the fifth inning, with Horn’s pitch count at 78 one batter into his third time through the order. First baseman Brayden Jaksa led off with a first-pitch single, and Smith drove a 2-2 pitch off the scoreboard in left field to re-take the lead 4-2.

Sanford came back out pitching with emotion to protect the lead, crossing his career high in strikeouts with his 11th before completing the start with his 12th and letting out a scream toward center field. 

“I mean, it was just emotions. They picked me up after I gave up the solo shot, so I wanted to give my offense something to get fired up about,” Sanford said.

Oregon’s exuberant fielders were replaced on the field by the grounds crew carrying out the tarp to cover the mound. On a day that began with a blue sky, the bottom of the sixth inning remained unlit on the PK Park scoreboard for an hour and 45 minutes due to consistent thunder and lightning.

Oregon came out swinging as if the pitching machine in the Player Development Area had a setting named after Nebraska reliever Braxton Stewart. Jax Gimenez led off with a double down the right field line before Jaksa hit a no-doubt home run into the Cornhuskers’ bullpen. Ryan Cooney added to the proof-of-concept for the Ducks’ rain delay preparation by working a full count and hitting another home run high off the scoreboard in left field to put Oregon ahead 7-2.

“We debriefed the first half, so just going over what happened, and then after that we’re just kind of goofing around, vibes were up, and then just came out firing,” Sanford said.

Tanner Bradley pitched a dominant one-two-three seventh inning for the Ducks, before Nebraska reliever Colin Nowaczyck threw a clean inning of his own. 

Redshirt freshman left-hander Blake Crawford took the mound next for the Ducks with two lefties due up for the Cornhuskers. Crawford walked the leadoff batter before surrendering a home run to Nebraska’s right-handed home run leader, Dylan Carey, cutting Oregon’s lead to 7-4. 

Nebraska pinch hit for its next lefty, bringing in Oregon right-handed pitcher Leo Uelmen. Uelmen’s strikeout pitch to open the outing eluded Mabeus behind the plate, and his throw up the line put a Cornhusker on first base. A wild pitch behind left fielder Jett Buck allowed the runner to advance to second, making Buck’s single later in the at-bat run-scoring. 

Oregon made a second pitching change before recording an out in the eighth inning, replacing Uelmen with closer Devin Bell. Nebraska pushed across another run with a groundout, cutting the Ducks’ lead to 7-6 before Bell prevented a complete disaster.

Nebraska reliever Kevin Mannell loaded the bases with two walks and a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning before turning the jam into a momentum swing in favor of the Cornhuskers with an inning-ending strikeout of Smith.

Bell extended the long wait for the save he was in line for over two hours earlier, allowing a leadoff single and hitting a batter, which left runners on second and third after a two-out wild pitch. With two strikes and two outs, Buck put a good swing on the final pitch of the game, but it landed harmlessly in center fielder Jack Brooks’ glove.

“It probably was one of the more challenging days of the year, at least at PK Park, so far,” Wasikowski said. “They did a good job fighting through it and coming out with a win.”

First pitch for Saturday’s game is scheduled for 12:05 p.m.