Huskers Fall 5-3 at Abilene Christian

Nebraska brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth but couldn’t complete the comeback, as the Huskers fell 5-3 at Abilene Christian on Saturday afternoon in Abilene, Texas.

The Huskers (15-9-1) had three runs on eight hits and a trio of errors, while the Wildcats (21-6) recorded five runs, six hits and an error.

Jace Kaminska suffered his first loss as a Husker, dropping to 5-1 on the season. The Caney, Kan., native allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits in four innings of work. Jackson Brockett pitched the next 1.2 innings, surrendering one hit and striking out two. Jake Bunz recorded two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work, while Shay Schanaman threw the final inning of relief.

Max Anderson led NU at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored. Brice Matthews was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs, while Ben Columbus, Griffin Everitt, Cole Evans and Garrett Anglim recorded one hit.

Nebraska scored in the first inning for the 11th time this season with one run on a pair of hits. Matthews reached on a first-pitch single and stole second, before Anderson’s RBI single through the left side gave NU an early 1-0 lead.

Abilene Christian jumped ahead 4-1 with a four-run third inning. An RBI single to right field, followed by an RBI fielder’s choice had the Wildcats out front by one, while a two-RBI double to left made it a three-run game.

The Wildcats added a run in the fourth off back-to-back NU errors with two outs to make it a 5-1 game after four innings.

The Huskers trimmed the deficit in half with a pair of runs in the seventh. Matthews singled through the right side, while Anderson smacked a two-run homer into the ACU bullpen behind the wall in right to make it 5-3.

Anglim began the ninth with a pinch-hit single to right field to put the tying run at the plate, but the Wildcats retired the next three Huskers to preserve the 5-3 win on Saturday.

The Huskers continue non-conference play on the road, as Nebraska ventures to Kansas State for a midweek matchup on Tuesday, April 4 in Manhattan, Kan. First pitch between the Huskers and Wildcats is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Tointon Family Stadium.