Huskers Edged by Toreros, 12-11

San Diego, Calif. – The Nebraska baseball team (1-3) led San Diego, 7-0, after the top of the fourth, but the Toreros stormed back on its way to a 12-11 win over the Huskers at Fowler Park on Friday night.

The Huskers compiled 18 hits, but left 11 runners on base. Cam Chick paced NU's offense with a 4-for-5 performance. Aaron Palensky and Leighton Banjoff each produced three-hit outings, as six Huskers produced multi-hit efforts.

Senior lefty Gareth Stroh, making his second start at Nebraska and 33rd career NCAA start, threw 5.0 innings and allowed four runs (three earned runs) on four hits. He recorded four strikeouts and no walks. Max Schreiber (1.1 innings), Tyler Martin (0.2) and Shay Schanaman (1.0) each made relief appearances for the Huskers.

In the opening frame, Palensky ripped a two-out double, but was left stranded after a strikeout ended the inning. It extended Palensky's team-best hitting streak to seven games and reaching base streak to 25 games. In the bottom of the first, the Toreros went down in order with a lineout, groundout and strikeout.

NU scored one run in the top of the second to take the early lead. Banjoff hit a one-out single before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Gunner Hellstrom drove him in with an RBI single up the middle. Stroh retired all three San Diego hitters in the bottom of the second.

The Huskers added six runs in the third inning to build a 7-0 advantage. Each of NU's first four batters reached base during the frame, as Chick and Spencer Schwellenbach hit back-to-back singles before Palensky brought them in with a two-RBI double. Luke Roskam singled to advance Palensky to third before the first out of the inning was recorded. Banjoff laced an RBI single before Mojo Hagge reached on a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Hellstrom reached on a fielder's choice and Roskam touched home on the play after a throwing error. Joe Acker earned an RBI with a walk in the subsequent at-bat before Chick's sacrifice fly added another run. The Toreros went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the third.

In the top of the fourth, Nebraska managed two baserunners, but couldn't add to its lead. San Diego scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut NU's lead to 7-3. After back-to-back singles to open the frame, Adam Kerner blasted a three-run home run to left field with two outs before a strikeout ended the inning.

Chick singled through the right side with two outs in the top of the fifth, but was caught stealing to end a scoreless inning for the Big Red. USD scored one run in the bottom of the fifth to trim the deficit to 7-4. NU committed two errors during the frame, as the Toreros managed one base hit, before a double play ended the inning.

The Huskers responded with two runs in the top of the sixth to build a 9-4 lead. Schwellenbach blasted a leadoff double and then scored on Roskam's one-out RBI single. After the second out was recorded, Banjoff reached on a hit-by-pitch. Hagge drove in one run with an RBI single, but was thrown out on the play after trying to reach second base. Schreiber retired the Toreros in order in the bottom of the sixth with two groundouts and a flyout.

Chick ripped a two-out double in the top of the seventh before a fielder's choice ended a scoreless frame for the Huskers. San Diego scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 9-9. The Toreros managed four hits during the frame and the Huskers committed two errors.

NU retook the lead at 10-9 with one run in the top of the eighth. Palensky drew a leadoff walk before stealing second. Banjoff drew a two-out walk and the runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Hagge drove in Palensky with an RBI single to center field, but Banjoff was thrown out at home on the play for the third out. In the bottom of the eighth, San Diego scored three runs to take a 12-10 lead. After a leadoff walk, Cody Jefferis delivered an RBI triple before scoring on a fielder's choice. An RBI single added an insurance run.

In the top of the ninth, Acker laced a one-out single before advancing to third on Chick's base hit. With two outs, Palensky drove in one run with an RBI single to cut the deficit to one run before a strikeout ended the game.

The Huskers return to action on Saturday when they face San Diego State at Tony Gwynn Stadium, starting at 8 p.m. (CT)/6 p.m. (PT).