Nebraska baseball lets six-run lead slip as San Diego walks it off 10-9
Nebraska baseball jumped out to a quick start against San Diego on Sunday afternoon, and things looked to be back on track for the Huskers.
However, the Toreros had other ideas as they broke the game open, taking advantage of NU’s bullpen struggles and walked it off with and RBI double. The 10-9 loss has the Big Red’s record at 0-3, their worst start to a season in 10 years.
Recap
Nebraska’s offense got a jolt to start this game. Three straight Huskers got aboard with base hits, with Josh Caron driving in the first run. Two more runs came across in the top of the first and NU took its first lead of the season, going up 3-0.
San Diego answered quickly, bringing in two runs of their own. Kevin Sim hit a two-run shot to straightaway center field, his third of the series.
However, Nebraska was ready to go blow for blow. Once again they extended their lead back to three in the top of the second inning. Max Anderson drove a ball into left field that brought in both of those Huskers.
NU chipped away offensively scoring a run in each of the next three innings, extending their lead to 8-2.
During this time, freshman Caleb Clark was dealing on the mound. In his first four innings as a Husker, Clark gave up just two runs on two hits. However, in the bottom of the fifth inning, things fell apart.
After loading the bases, Clark’s day was done. Brett Sears took the mound for Nebraska and didn’t find his stuff. The righty didn’t retire a batter, giving up two hits as five runs came across home plate.
Veteran Kyle Perry got out of the jam for the Big Red, but the damage was done. After Max Anderson drove in a ninth run for NU, Perry pitched the bottom sixth. The Toreros drove in two runs off Perry tying things up at nine.
Corbin Hawkins walked onto the mound in the seventh inning, but after getting into trouble, Jalen Worthley took over. The freshman worked out of a tough situation with the bases loaded and retired the side.
After trading a couple of zeros on the scoreboard, San Diego got the final blow off Michael Garza to walk the game off 10-9.
“It’s a team in the other dugout that won a championship last year and they know how to win.”
-Nebraska Associate Head Coach Lance Harvell
A collapse of the bullpen
After Caleb Clark got off to a strong start on the mound, it was the bullpen that faltered. First out of the pen was Brett Sears. The junior struggled to get an out. After allowing two runs of his own and three of Clark’s baserunners, his day was over. Kyle Perry did well to get out of the jam, but got himself into one the next inning, allowing two more runs.
Caleb Clark stepped off the mound, and the Huskers allowed seven runs in two innings. That quickly erased Nebraska’s lead and was all the Toreros needed for momentum.
Needed an explosive inning
The top of the sixth inning was NU’s chance to put the game away. The Big Red had the bases loaded with no outs and San Diego plunked Max Anderson to walk in a run. However, the next three at-bats didn’t advance any runners and Nebraska scored just one run from that situation.
Two strikeouts and an infield ground ball ended the top half of the inning, and the Toreros tied it up in the bottom half. This was a moment that the game could have turned in one direction in favor of Nebraska, but instead San Diego pounced.
What’s next?
NU plays the final game of the four-game series against USD on Monday. First pitch is at 2:00 p.m. CST. The game is streaming on the West Coast Conference Network website and the Huskers Radio Network will carry the radio broadcast.
