Cal Poly Falls to Nebraska, 3-2, in Opener of Four-Game Series

Thursday, March 23

6 pm

7-13

Nebraska

10-9

Nebraska

Cal Poly

Cal Poly Falls to Nebraska, 3-2, in Opener of Four-Game Series

3/23/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — A quartet of Cal Poly pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts and the Mustang batters outhit Nebraska 7-4, but the Huskers produced a 3-2 victory in the opening game of a four-game non-conference series Thursday night before 1,355 inside Baggett Stadium.

Head coach Darin Erstad's Huskers scored twice in the first inning and tallied what proved to be the winning run in the sixth to improve to 10-9 on the year,

Cal Poly, which strung together four hits for two runs, all with two outs, in the seventh frame, but had few other scoring chances in the game, fell to 7-13.

Right-hander Jake Hohensee (2-2) tossed 6 2/3 innings for the win, allowing one run and three hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Mustang junior righty Erich Uelmen (1-4) suffered the loss, giving up three runs (two earned) and four hits over six innings with one walk and five strikeouts.

Michael Clark, Trent Shelton and Slater Lee combined for three scoreless innings and five strikeouts in relief of Uelmen, but the Mustang offense couldn't complete the comeback from a 3-0 deficit.

In the Nebraska first, the initial run came home on a failed pickoff attempt and wild throw to first base by Uelmen while the second run came courtesy of a wild pitch.

First baseman Ben Miller doubled to right-center field to make it 3-0 in the sixth inning.

Cal Poly finally answered with two runs in the seventh. With two outs, Elijah Skipps and Alec Smith both singled and Scott Ogrin's second single of the game through the right side of the Nebraska infield got the Mustangs on the scoreboard.

Pinch-hitter Myles Emmerson beat the throw to first base on a slow infield roller to third for his first collegiate hit and first RBI, trimming Nebraska's lead to 3-2. Center fielder Alex McKenna grounded out on a close play at first base to end the inning.

Other than the seventh inning, Cal Poly had multiple runners on base only one other time, loading the bases with two outs in the second inning. Third baseman Jack Kuzma, however, grounded out to first base.

Cal Poly's seven hits included two singles each by Skipps (pictured above left) and Ogrin (pictured at top of page). Nebraska's four hits were produced by the top four in the batting order. Miller's double was the lone extra-base hit of the game.

Second game of the series Friday has been moved up to 2 p.m. due to impending inclement weather, with Mustang sophomore right-hander Spencer Howard (1-0, 1.27 ERA) to face Nebraska junior righty Derek Burkamper (1-2, 3.78 ERA).

The two teams wrap up the series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.

Photos courtesy of Matt Aguirre