Huskers Edged by USC in Series Opener

Nebraska opened its weekend series at USC with a 5-3 loss to the Trojans at Great Park on Friday night in Irvine, Calif.

Nebraska (9-12, 1-6 Big Ten) scored three runs on five hits, while USC (13-8, 3-4 Big Ten) totaled five runs and nine hits.

Dylan Carey was 1-for-4 with a two-RBI double, and Tyler Stone went 1-for-4 with an RBI double. Devin Nunez, Robby Bolin and Colin Cymbalista posted one hit apiece.

Will Walsh dropped to 2-4 on the season after giving up four runs on eight hits in six innings. The southpaw struck out six batters and issued zero free passes. Drew Christo pitched the final two innings, surrendering one run on one hit with two strikeouts.

A pair of hits in the bottom of the first had the Trojans out front 1-0 through one. A one-out triple off the center-field wall, followed by an RBI single to right, gave USC its early lead.

Four straight two-out hits from the USC offense in the bottom of the third grew the lead to 4-0 for the Trojans. Two consecutive singles had runners on first and second, before a two-RBI double to left field made it a three-run game. An RBI single down the left-field line after the RBI double plated one more for the Trojans.

Nebraska tallied three runs on four hits to make it a one-run game in the fourth frame. Leadoff walks to Nunez and Cayden Brumbaugh had runners on first and second with no outs, while Stone lifted an RBI double to center to score Nunez.

Carey followed Stone’s double by lacing a two-RBI double down the left-field line to plate Brumbaugh and Stone and bring the Big Red within 4-3 through four innings.

USC doubled its lead to 5-3 with a leadoff solo homer to right to begin the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Huskers were retired in order in the eighth and ninth innings to clinch the 5-3 series-opening win for USC on Friday night.

Nebraska and USC continue the weekend series tomorrow afternoon at Great Park in Irvine, Calif. First pitch between the Huskers and Trojans is set for 4 p.m. CT on B1G+.