Huskers Drop Doubleheader to No. 22 Titans

Fullerton, Calif. - A shutout from No. 22 Cal State Fullerton's pitching staff, along with nine runs on 11 hits from the Titans' offense resulted in a 9-0 win and a doubleheader sweep of the Nebraska baseball team (0-3, 0-0 Big Ten) on Saturday night at Goodwin Field. The Huskers put up five runs in game one of the doubleheader, but was unable to match the Titans, as Fullerton won the opener, 10-5.

Fullerton freshman starter Justin Garza put on a show in his first career collegiate appearance. The power righty held the Huskers scoreless on two hits and one walk over 6.0 innings, while striking out six. The Titans' bullpen took over and held onto the shutout over the final three innings, giving up just a pair of hits.

The Titans got to NU starter Zach Hirsch right away with a pair of singles to start the bottom of the first. Both runners came around to score, as the Titans totaled three hits in the inning off the NU lefty. Fullerton pushed its lead to 5-0 through three innings with three runs on three hits in the third, including a double from Chad Wallach.

With Garza keeping the Husker hitters at bay, the Titan bats chased Hirsch in the fifth, as Head Coach Darin Erstad turned to freshman Colton Howell. Making his first career appearance at NU, Howell entered the game with two runners on and gave up a two-RBI single that extended Fullerton's lead to 7-0. Howell then load the bases with a pair of walks, but dug in and produced back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

Tyler Niederklein climbed the hill for the Huskers in the seventh and surrendered a pair of runs, increasing Fullerton's lead to 9-0.

Nebraska wraps up its opening weekend tomorrow with a trip to Dedeaux Field for a 3 p.m. (CT) meeting with the USC Trojans.