Ruston, La. - The Nebraska
baseball team (4-9, 0-0 Big Ten) had the game-tying run at third base with one
out in the top of the ninth inning, but was unable to get the hit it need to
extend the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at J.C. Love
Field. The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs posted two runs in the bottom of the first
inning and it was all they needed, as they held onto a 2-1 win to capture the
series after taking the series opener on Friday night.
Christian
DeLeon when 8.0 innings in his second straight start, but took the loss to fall
to 1-1 on the season. The junior righty gave up just a pair of runs on six hits
and no walks.
The
Huskers loaded the bases to start the game, but were unable to plate a run.
Following a pair of two-out singles from Chad Christensen and Josh Scheffert, Pat
Kelly worked a full-count walk to load the bases for Kash Kalkowski. The senior
first baseman took a cut at the first pitch he saw from La Tech starter Trevor
Petersen and grounded out to first to end the NU first inning.
DeLeon
took the mound and retired Bulldog leadoff hitter Austin Hedges, but then gave
up four straight singles up the middle, resulting in a 2-0 lead for the
Bulldogs. With a pair of runners on and one down, Jacob Derouen grounded into a
6-3 double play to end the first.
After
a rocky first inning, DeLeon settled in and allowed just three base runners the
rest of the game, including 1-2-3 innings in the fourth, fifth, sixth and
eighth.
Nebraska's
offense was unable to take advantage of DeLeon's work though, as NU went down
in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. The Huskers were able to cut
into the La Tech lead in the eighth when Jake Placzek pinch hit for Taylor Fish
and drew a leadoff walk. Michael Pritchard moved Placzek into scoring position
with a sacrifice bunt and following a fly out from Austin Darby, Christensen delivered
a two-out single down the leftfield line that plated Placzek. James Ferguson retired
Scheffert to keep Christensen from coming around to tie the game.
Kelly
led off the ninth with a single and Kalkowski was hit to put a pair of runners
on with no outs. Sanguinetti did his part with a sacrifice bunt that moved both
his teammates into scoring position. Corey Stringer pinch hit for Bryan Peters
and struck out, before Tanner Lubach grounded out to end the game.
Game
two of today's doubleheader is scheduled to start at 3:45 p.m.
