Huskers Fall to Bulldogs, 8-2

Fresno, Calif. – Adam Bailey had three hits, but the Nebraska baseball team was unable to get timely hitting, while Fresno State strung together two big innings for an 8-2 victory Saturday afternoon at Beiden Field.

Jordan Ribera and Trent Garrison drove in three runs apiece, as the Bulldogs (2-0) used a four-run second inning to seize control early off of Nebraska starter Michael Mariot.

The Huskers struck first in the top of the frame, as back-to-back singles by Farst and Bailey opened the second before Patric Tolentino’s sacrifice moved both runners into scoring position. Fresno State Morse then uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Farst to score with the Huskers’ first run.

Nebraska would not lead for long, as Fresno State strung together four straight hits to open the second, including two-run homers by Ribera and Garrrison, to stake Morse to a 4-1 lead. Ribera homered twice as part of a 2-for-3 afternoon, while Garrison had two hits, as the pair accounted for six of the Bulldogs’ eight RBIs.

The Huskers pulled to within 4-2 one inning later, as DJ Belfonte singled with one out, moved to second on a Kyle Bubak walk and scored on an error by Fresno State’s Bobby Coyle, as he was unable to come up with Cody Asche’s slicing liner down the line in left.

Ribera, who hit a walk off homer for Fresno State on Friday, gave the hosts a 5-2 cushion in the bottom of the frame with his second homer of the day, a solo shot to left just past the outstretched glove of Khiry Cooper.

Mariot (0-1) settled down after Ribera’s second homer, as he set down six of the final seven hitters he faced, as he went five innings. Morse (1-0) went five innings for the win for Fresno State, allowing one earned run on five hits, while Charlie Robertson and Gene Escat combined for four scoreless innings of relief and got the Bulldogs out of several late jams.

Nebraska had ample opportunities to slice into the three-run deficit against the Bulldog, loading the bases in the sixth, eighth and ninth, but coming away empty on each occasion. Nebraska stranded 11 runners on the day, including eight in scoring position.

“The big inning hurt us and I think we pressed a little bit,” Nebraska Coach Mike Anderson said. “That is one thing our offense doesn’t need to do; we need to stay in a rhythm and groove. Today, I think we chased some bad pitches and got ourselves out of some innings that way. We were a little too anxious at the plate and tried to do too much, and that is something we can learn from.”

NU had a golden opportunity in the sixth, as a Bailey single and two walks loaded the bases with no outs, but Charlie Robertson struck out Bryan Peters and got pinch hitter Kale Kiser to ground into an inning-ending double play. Two innings later, NU loaded the bases, but Roberson got out of it unscathed by getting Kiser to ground out.

Bailey went 3-for-4 to pace NU’s seven-hit attack, while Belfonte continued his hot start with his second multi-hit game of the season.

Fresno State put the game away in the eight, scoring three times, including run-scoring singles from pinch-hitter Kenny Wise and Garrison.

The two teams will continue the series Sunday afternoon at 3:05 p.m. (central). Both teams have not announced starters for Sunday’s contest.