Huskers drop series opener thanks to self-inflicted wounds

Nebraska's hot streak came to a screeching halt Friday night, and the Huskers have no one to blame but themselves.

They issued 12 free passes, stranded 11 runners and committed a critical error in one of the game's biggest moments, fully earning the 6-4 defeat to Illinois.

The defeat snapped an eight-game winning streak and dropped Nebraska to 17-8 on the season and 3-1 in Big Ten play.

"It's just disappointing," Darin Erstad said. "We didn't compete in the strike zone. We were facing a quality pitcher and knew it was going to be a tight game.

"What else are you going to say? It was just brutal on the mound. When you're not competing in the strike zone, you get what you deserve."

The night couldn't have started much worse, as Derek Burkamper walked a batter and hit another in the first, salvaging the frame by striking out the side. He wasn't so lucky in the second, when he offered four free passes and was removed with just one out.

It was the shortest start of Burkamper's career as the junior tied his career high with five walks. He threw just 23 of his 49 pitches for strikes.

The Illini capitalized off of Burkamper's wildness, scoring twice in the second. But Reece Eddins stabilized things after that - he kept Illinois from adding anything more until the seventh, when he was relieved by Jeff Chesnut.

Then things really fell apart. Chesnut walked the first three batters he faced in the seventh. He appeared to get a critical out when Anthony Drago grounded weakly back to the mound, but Chesnut's throw home got away from Taylor Fish, allowing two runs to score. Another run came in on a sac fly before Robbie Palkert finally ended the frame.

Illinois turned a leadoff walk in the eighth into an insurance run in the eighth.

The Illini scored six runs on just six hits.

"It's not competing," Erstad said. "It's a fear of contact... You give up a couple walks and the next thing you know, you forget to breathe and you start trying to guide the ball in there and you're not attacking. It's pretty easy to see. That's unacceptable from our frontline guys to do that in this setting on a Friday night."

As poor as the pitching was, the offense carries plenty of blame as well. Nebraska didn't muster a hit until a double by Elijah Dilday to lead off the fifth, but he was left stranded at third. The Huskers scored three runs in the sixth to tie the game, but also left the bases loaded. Nebraska added a run in the seventh but again stranded a pair.

The way the game ended provided a nice summary of the game. The Huskers put a pair on base with two outs and Luis Alvarado dumped a single into left. But pinch runner Cole Klemke overran third and was thrown out to end the game.

The Huskers hit 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

The two teams will meet again Saturday at 2:05 p.m. before Sunday's finale at 1:05 p.m.

***The game was the second time this season Burkamper had five walks. The junior also walked five against Wichita State on March 18, though he at least pitched 4.1 innings in that appearance.

***Nebraska has been outscored 17-6 in the second inning this year. The Huskers have outscored their opponents in every other individual inning.

***The Huskers fell to 1-6 when the opponent scores first.

***The attendance was 2,102.