Big 10 baseball: Vieaux’s gem helps Spartans advance

Omaha, Neb. — Left-hander Cam Vieaux allowed three hits over 8 1/3 innings and Michigan State scored all of its runs in the sixth in a 5-1 victory over Nebraska in the Big Ten tournament on Wednesday.

The Spartans (35-18) advanced to Thursday’s winner’s bracket game against Maryland. The Cornhuskers (37-29) will meet Indiana in a morning elimination game.

“The story, in my opinion, is that Cam Vieaux was lights out today,” Spartans coach Jake Boss Jr. said. “He was in command the whole way. It was a grind it out type of day for us offensively, but when you’ve got a Friday night guy and he’s rolling, it makes everything easier. I’m really proud of our guys. Important win for us today.”

Justin Hovis doubled down the left-field line leading off the sixth and scored on the first of Nebraska’s two errors in the inning. Jordan Zimmerman had an RBI double to chase Derek Burkamper, and the Spartans tacked on runs on an error, sacrifice fly and Kris Simonton’s single.

The Huskers’ only run came in the bottom of the sixth on Ben Miller’s double.

Vieaux (7-4) left with two outs in the ninth, and Dakota Mekkes struck out pinch hitter Angelo Altavilla.

“I knew if I didn’t do my job today, it could be the last time throwing in the Green and White, so I went out there and gave it everything I had,” Vieaux said.

Burkamper (6-3) allowed four runs on four hits in five innings.

Maryland 5, Indiana 3: Mike Shawaryn struck out 16 in his third complete game of the season for the Terrapins (29-25).

Shawaryn (6-4) allowed four hits while throwing 125 pitches, 90 for strikes, in a performance that left him one short of the tournament strikeout record. He retired the last 12 batters he faced.

Iowa 8, Minnesota 2: C.J. Eldred pitched seven innings and allowed two runs on six hits, and Tyler Peyton had four hits for Minnesota (28-25).