Huskers can't overcome early deficit, fall 13-5 to Cougars

Things couldn't have gone much better for Nebraska in its season opener Friday, as the Huskers allowed just two hits, played error-free defense and squeezed out a 4-0 victory at College of Charleston.

It quickly became apparent Saturday's game wouldn't follow the same template. The Cougars jumped all over the Huskers, scoring seven runs in the first two innings alone and chasing Garett King after just three outs. The NU defense didn't help matters, committing four errors as the Huskers ultimately fell 13-5.

Darin Erstad didn't think his team came in feeling overconfident after Friday's win, but King's early struggles helped set the tone for a rough day.

"We had good warmups. The focus was good," Erstad said during his appearance on the Husker Sports Network. "But Garett was up in the zone. He wasn't able to control his emotions. When you're throwing thigh-high fastballs and walking leadoff hitters, and that's not characteristic of him, you're going to get yourself in some trouble.

"It was a very opposite game of yesterday, but it provides an important lesson for our young guys, just to throw strikes... There was a lot of sloppiness with the baseball in general and it's obviously something we're going to have to clean up."

Making the first weekend start of his young career, King struggled mightily with his command from the outset. The sophomore repeatedly fell behind hitters in the opening frame, when College of Charleston scored three times on four hits and a walk. After allowing two more runs without getting an out in the second, King's day was done.

The Cougars added two more to stretch the lead to 7-0, but then the Huskers started chipping away. Nebraska scored twice in the fourth, once in the fifth and twice on a two-run homer by catcher Jesse Wilkening, making the first start of his career.

But that effort wasn't enough. The Huskers allowed single runs in the fifth and sixth innings before College of Charleston put the nail in the coffin with a four-run eighth.

"We understand that at times we're going to have some growing pains throwing a few new guys on the mound," Erstad said. "But it's also a great competition for them and we're going to find some people."

Nebraska's offense was able to put plenty of pressure on the Cougars' pitchers but were rarely able to finish the deal. The Huskers put at least on runner on in every inning except the ninth and had 11 hits but stranded 13 men on base.

The two teams will meet in the rubber match Sunday at 10 a.m.

***Catcher Jesse Wilkening: What a debut for the true freshman. Wilkening ripped a double to left in his second at-bat, then blasted a two-run bomb in the sixth. The fact that Erstad had him batting third in his debut is a good indication of how highly the staff views him.

***Pitcher Reece Eddins: The sophomore was put in a very tough position as he was asked to mop up King's mess. Eddins was far from perfect, but after a rough freshman season he performed well in his 2016 debut. In 3.1 innings, Eddins allowed four hits and one earned run while striking out three.

***Erstad said Zack Engelken will start Sunday's finale and Jake McSteen will serve as the "piggy-back long guy."

***Jake Schleppenbach left Friday's game after appearing to hurt a finger during a bunt attempt, but Erstad said x-rays were negative and the junior was back in the starting lineup Saturday. Schleppenbach went 2-for-5 with a run.

***First baseman Scott Schreiber, who's been dealing with back pain, will sit Sunday's finale. Schreiber started the first two games and had one hit Saturday.