Huskers grab first win of the weekend with 11-5 victory

For the fifth straight game, Nebraska’s starting pitching faltered early and put the Huskers in an early hole. Zack Engelken failed to get out of the second inning and it appeared Nebraska would leave the Tony Gwynn Classic empty-handed.

But for the first time on this young season, NU was able to rebound and come away with a victory. The Husker bats bashed 11 hits, including three home runs, to defeat No. 20 Tulane 11-5.

Nebraska is now 2-4 on the season.

"They came to play," Darin Erstad said during his postgame appearance on the Husker Sports Network. "They came ready to play yesterday too and came out on the wrong end. It's tough to put that much emotional and physical energy into a game to rebound on a short day. Boy, they came out ready to play."

The Huskers grabbed an early lead on an RBI double by Ben Miller in the first. But after a strong first inning, Engelken walked the bases loaded in the second. Stephen Alemais ripped a two-out, three-RBI double to chase Engelken. It appeared Nebraska's pitching, which allowed 36 hits in the first two games of the weekend, would sink NU once again.

"Zack came out pumping strikes and looked electric out there," Erstad said. "Then in the second inning his stuff fell away and he had a tough time throwing strikes. He's battled with that. He's spent so much time working and it's hard to see him struggle like that."

But then a funny thing happened. True freshman Matt Waldron came in and immediately silenced the Green Wave. After closing out the second, Waldron sent Tulane down in order in each of the next three frames. He did allow a two-run shot in the sixth, but NU had established a solid lead at that point.

"He throws strikes and he kept them off balance," Erstad said. "He had good movement on his fastball and he was using his changeup to both righties and lefties in hitters' counters. He got a ton of rollovers and a ton of ground balls. That's how you pitch.

"He's a strike thrower, and that's what we expect to see out of him."

Nebraska's offensive attack was relentless. The Huskers scored four runs in the third, the final two coming on an inside-the-park home run by Jake Meyers. They scored in each of the next four innings, two of which came on solo bombs by Jake Placzek and Scott Schreiber.

Despite the good vibes coming out of this game, Nebraska's starting pitching remains a major concern. The Huskers' three starters combined for just 5.1 innings this weekend, and five of NU's six starts this year have lasted fewer than four innings. Getting Derek Burkamper back from suspension next week could help.

The Huskers will return to California next weekend for a three-game series with Long Beach State, beginning Friday at 8 p.m.

***Pitcher Matt Waldron: The true freshman quite possibly saved the day for Nebraska. With Nebraska's bullpen heavily taxed this weekend and Engelken unable to find the plate, Waldon gave the Huskers six solid innings, striking out four and allowing just six base runners.

***Third baseman Jake Placzek: The senior went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, giving him six runs batted in over the past two games. Placzek came into the weekend with one career home run, but his sixth-inning shot gave him two in as many games.

"He's a little grinder, man," Erstad said. "He's what it's all about."

***Meyer's inside-the-park home run was the Huskers' first since Cory Burleson hit one in 2012.

***With three home runs Sunday, Nebraska already has eight this season.

***With Schreiber again bothered by a sore arm and manning the designated hitter spot, Ben Miller played first for the third straight game. Miller had never played in the field in his career prior to this weekend.