No. 23 Nebraska trailed by five through two innings and never cut into the deficit, as the Huskers fell 10-2 in the series finale at Louisiana on Saturday evening at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park in Lafayette, La.
The Big Red (3-4) totaled two runs, five hits and three errors, while the Ragin’ Cajuns (4-3) scored 10 runs on 13 hits and committed an error.
Devin Nunez had a solo homer in his first career start, while Will Jesske had an RBI triple. Dylan Carey, Max Buettenback and Riley Silva each had a single in the loss.
Will Walsh dropped to 1-1 on the season after giving up five runs, four earned, on four hits in two innings. Drew Christo surrendered three runs, one earned, on two hits in 1.2 innings of work. Colin Nowaczyk recorded the final out in the bottom of the fourth via a strikeout, while Jackson Brockett allowed two runs on four hits in an inning.
Ryan Harrahill, Grant Cleavinger and Gavin Blachowicz pitched one inning apiece for the NU pitching staff, shutting out the Cajuns over the final three innings.
A five-run second inning from the Cajuns blew the game open and gave Louisiana a 5-0 lead. A bunt single, joined with a throwing error plated the first two runs, while an RBI double had the Cajuns out front 3-0. A throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt allowed a third run to come home, before a sacrifice fly plated Louisiana’s fifth run of the inning.
Carey reached on a one-out single in the fourth frame and advanced to second on an errant throw on a pickoff attempt. The junior scored Nebraska’s first run after Jesske laced a 1-2 pitch to left for an RBI triple to make it a 5-1 game.
The Cajuns responded immediately in the bottom of the fourth with three runs on two hits and an error. A single, followed by a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt had runners on second and third with no outs. An RBI single to left grew the lead back to five, while a sacrifice fly and an RBI groundout grew the lead to 8-1 through four innings.
An RBI single in the fifth inning and an RBI fielder’s choice in the sixth extended the lead to 10-1 for the Cajuns.
Making his first career start as a Husker, Nunez drilled a 368-foot solo homer just inside the right-field foul pole to score Nebraska’s second run of the night in the top of the eighth.
Nebraska continues play next weekend, as the Huskers take part in the Frisco College Baseball Classic in Frisco, Texas. The Big Red are set to take on Sam Houston on Friday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m.
