Nunez’s Two-RBI Single in Ninth Lifts Huskers

Freshman Devin Nunez delivered the go-ahead two-RBI single in the top of the ninth inning, as the Huskers evened the series at USC with a 6-5 win on Saturday afternoon at Great Park in Irvine, Calif.

Nebraska (10-12, 2-6 Big Ten) scored six runs on seven hits and an error, while USC (13-9, 3-5 Big Ten) recorded five runs, nine hits and an error.

Nunez led NU at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Dylan Carey and Joshua Overbeek posted a double and two RBI each for the Huskers. Cayden Brumbaugh, Cael Frost and Cayden Brumbaugh recorded one hit apiece.

Ty Horn pitched five innings in the start, surrendering two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Carson Jasa gave up three runs on two hits and a walk in 0.2 innings.

Caleb Clark and Casey Daiss combined to pitch a shutout frame, allowing a pair of singles. Luke Broderick improved to 1-0 on the season after dealing 2.1 shutout innings. The junior gave up one hit and two walks while striking out three.

The Trojans struck first in the opening frame with one run on a pair of hits to grab an early lead. USC had runners on first and second with a leadoff walk and single, followed by a sacrifice bunt. An RBI single lifted to left-center scored the game’s first run for the Trojans.

A one-out single and a stolen base, joined with a two-out RBI single to left field, doubled the lead to two for USC in the bottom of the third.

The Husker offense poured in four runs on four hits in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-2 lead. Nunez tallied NU’s first hit of the afternoon with a one-out single to center field. A well-executed hit-and-run had runners on first and third after Brumbaugh lifted a single to right field.

Brumbaugh stole second to put runners on second and third with one out, before Carey lifted a 2-2 pitch to deep center for a sun-aided, two-RBI double that locked the game at two. Sanderson was plunked on the first pitch in the next at-bat, while Overbeek laced a two-RBI double down the right-field line to score Carey and Sanderson to give the Big Red a 4-2 advantage.

Horn retired the Trojans in order in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to maintain Nebraska’s two-run lead through five innings.

Three two-out runs in the bottom of the sixth gave USC a 5-4 lead through six innings. Jasa retired the first hitters with a pair of flyouts, while a single, walk and hit batter loaded the bases for the Trojans.

USC took back the lead on a pair of RBI hits that didn’t leave the infield. An RBI single to shortstop scored the first run, while a two-RBI single to second base handed the Trojans a 5-4 lead.

The Huskers threatened in the top of the eighth but stranded the tying run at third base. Nunez led off with a full-count walk and stole second, before advancing to third on a groundout to first.

Nebraska scored two runs on two hits in the top of the ninth to send a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning. A leadoff walk and a wild pitch put the tying run on second with no outs for the Huskers. Frost’s two-out single to second base moved the tying run to third and had the go-ahead run at first for the Big Red.

Robby Bolin was plunked on the first pitch, before Nunez ripped a two-RBI single up the middle to plate Jaron Cotton and Frost to give Nebraska a one-run lead.

USC threatened in the bottom of the ninth when a leadoff single and walk had runners on first and second with no outs. Broderick picked up his third strikeout of the afternoon, before Carey deked the Trojans into a game-ending double play.

Carey dropped the infield-fly popup at shortstop, tricking the Trojans’ baserunner at second to advance to third. The junior picked up the ball and fired the relay to Overbeek at third, who applied the tag for the game-ending out at third base to clinch Nebraska’s 6-5 win on Saturday.

Nebraska and USC conclude the weekend series tomorrow afternoon at Great Park in Irvine, Calif. First pitch between the Huskers and Trojans is set for 2 p.m. CT on B1G+.