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Nebraska suffers 13-5 loss in Game 1

Same story, different night for the Huskers. Nebraska recorded its sixth straight loss on Friday night to Arizona State. The Huskers (1-6, 0-0 Big Ten) fell 13-5 to the Sun Devils (6-3, 0-0 Pac-12) in Game 1 of the three-game series. Once again, NU’s mound just couldn’t get it done.

Six Huskers saw action from the bullpen on Friday. Senior Gareth Stroh did not travel with the team. Stroh was dealing with an elbow injury earlier in the week. Junior Max Schreiber made his first-career start at the mound. He was relieved by sophomore Shay Schanaman in the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman Caleb Feekin, Sayer Diederich, Quinn Mason and Braxton Bragg also saw action.

The Sun Devils got things going early. An Arizona State single to left field plated a runner in the bottom of the second inning. ASU capitalized on a wild pitch from Schreiber to bring in another run and make it 2-0. It didn’t stop there. Following another Schreiber walk, ASU runners advanced on a wild pitch. The Sun Devils led 3-0 headed into the fourth inning.

The Huskers showed some spark in the top of the fourth inning. Junior Aaron Palensky homered one to deep left to cut the lead 3-1.

NU’s bullpen fell apart in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Sun Devils scored eight runs on three hits to take an 11-1 lead. Nebraska scored four runs late in the game, but it wasn’t enough to seal a win.

Courtesy of Huskers.com
Courtesy of Huskers.com
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Fourth inning disaster

After back to back walks from Schanaman, the Sun Devil bats got hot. Junior Gage Workman’s double down the right field line scored one run. Junior Hunter Jump’s double down the left field line brought two runners across the plate. ASU led 6-1 with only one out from the Huskers.

Feekin’s first pitch at the mound resulted in a Sun Devil RBI single to center field, adding to the lead. Things only got worse out of the bullpen. A walk and two-straight batters hit by pitches, brought in more runs. Junior Trevor Hauver’s sacrifice fly to center field made it an eight-run game.

Mound continues to struggle

It was a rough night for Nebraska without its starting pitcher.

The six pitchers hit five players at bat, allowed 10 walks, four wild pitches and 11 hits. combined. Schreiber recorded four strikeouts for NU. Feekin and Diederich allowed eight runs on three hits, three hit batters and five walks combined.

"When you walk guys, hit guys and throw wild pitches right out of the bullpen, it's not going to get it done. This is a team that can do damage in one swing...Max executed some pitches. I'm just proud of the way he competed and minimized to give his team a chance."
— Head coach Will Bolt

What's next

Nebraska and Arizona meet on Saturday for Game 2 of the three-game series. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. CST.

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