Huskers Top Roadrunners, 9-6

Lincoln ? Mike Nesseth overcame a rocky start to earn his first win since March 18, as Nebraska topped CSU Bakersfield, 9-6, Friday night at Hawks Field.

Nesseth (4-4) allowed five runs over the first two innings, but settled down and held the Roadrunners in check over his final 5.1 innings of work. The sophomore right-hander fanned seven and allowed just three hits after the second in his longest outing since March 6, as he retired nine of the final 11 hitters he faced in a 7.1 inning stint.

“It ended up being a great outing because he went through some adversity and fought back and settled down in the last few innings,” Anderson said. “He’s fighting himself sometimes, but when he does find it, he’s very, very good.”

Freshman Cory Burleson paced the 10-hit attack for Nebraska (22-26-1), going 2-for-3 with his first career homer and scoring three times. Jake Mort drove in pair of runs, as eight of the nine Huskers starters had hits on the night.

While Nesseth struggled early, Nebraska’s bats gave him some time to settle down, putting up six runs in the bottom of the second off of CSUB starter Martin Medina (2-3) to regain the lead for good.

After a leadoff walk to Jeff Tezak, Ben Kline single put runners on first and second before Mort ripped a 2-1 pitch down the line in left for a two-run double, pulling the Huskers within 5-2. Burleson walked before DJ Belfonte was hit by a pitch to load the bases, marking the fifth straight Husker to reach. Boomer Collins plated another run with a fielder’s choice before he stole second and the errant throw allowed Burleson to score NU’s fourth run. Adam Bailey then tied the score with a one-out RBI single before an error on a fielder’s choice by Cody Asche gave the Huskers a 6-5 lead.

Nesseth found his groove, setting down six straight hitters after Jeremy Rodriguez led off the third with a double, while Nebraska extended the lead with single runs in the third, sixth and seventh innings to make it a 9-5 game.

Burleson launched his first homer of the season, a solo shot in the third, off of Medina, who allowed seven runs over 3.1 innings to take the loss.  In the sixth, Boomer Collins singled and scored two batters later as Tyler Farst, who went 2-for-4, doubled to right center. NU tacked on an unearned run in the seventh, as Burleson singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and eventually scored on a Roadrunner fielding miscue.

CSU Bakersfield (9-32) pulled closer in the eighth, as Ryan McIntyre doubled and scored on JJ Henry’s RBI single, as McIntyre went 2-for-3 with a homer and two doubles and a pair of RBIs in a losing effort.

The two teams will continue the series Saturday afternoon, as Kash Kalkowski looks for his second win of the year. First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m. and the game will be carried on the IMG Husker Sports Network. The game will not be shown on Huskers.com because of Big 12 television restrictions.