Huskers Drop Doubleheader at #20 Long Beach

Long Beach, Calif. – The Nebraska pitching staff gave up just four runs over 22.0 innings in a doubleheader on Saturday at Blair Field, but NU’s offense was held to one run on the day and the Huskers dropped both games of the double dip to the No. 20 Long Beach State Dirtbags.

Long Beach State took game one, 1-0, on a walk-off single in the 13th inning and then took the series with a 3-1 victory in the night cap.

Nebraska’s bullpen allowed just two baserunners over its final 3.0 innings, but NU’s offense was unable to capitalize, even though it outhit the Dirtbags on the day, 7-6, and had its leadoff man on base five times over the game’s final seven innings.

The Huskers had the tying runs on base in the top of the ninth with one out, but Chris Rivera polished off a 2.0 inning save with a 4-3 double-play ball.

Freshman Matt Waldron made his first career start on Saturday night and retired the first nine batters he faced. The Omaha Westside product went 5.0 innings and struck out five, while allowing three runs on five hits and a walk. Waldron gave up just one run on one hit through four innings before being tagged for two runs on four hits in the fifth.

Long Beach State’s Tanner Brown went 7.0 inning and allowed just one run on five hits and a walk. The right hander entered the game with 11 strikeouts over 11.2 innings and added five more on Saturday night.

Waldron’s no hitter was snapped in the fourth when Garrett Hampson led off with a single. The Dirtbags’ shortstop then stole second, moved to third on a sac bunt and scored the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly from Alex Muzzi, who produced the walk-off single in game one of the doubleheader.

The lead didn’t last long, as the Husker answered in the top of the fifth. Luis Alvarado started the frame with a single and was quickly at third following a double by Steven Reveles. Ryan Boldt stepped in and produced a sacrifice fly that scored Alvarado, knotting the game at 1-1. NU was unable to take the lead though as Reveles ended the frame stranded at second.

Long Beach State jumped back in front in the bottom of the fifth, 3-1, on a two-run homer from Garrett Nelson. Brock Lundquist led off with a double and scored when Nelson blasted the first pitch he saw over the right-center field wall. The Dirtbags followed with consecutive singles, but Waldon got out of the inning with a pop up bunt and a double play.

NU’s bullpen kept Long Beach scoreless the rest of the way, but LBS’s arms matched the effort with four shutout innings to end the game, as NU stranded nine runners on the night.

With the series complete, the Huskers now head back to Lincoln for their 2016 home opener on Tuesday, March 8. Nebraska will host Northern Colorado at Hawks Field, with first pitch schedule for 1:35 p.m.