Nebraska baseball erased deficits of 2-0 and 5-4 to defeat USC 6-5 Saturday in Irvine, Calif. A two-run single by Devin Nunez in the top of the ninth gave the Huskers the lead for good and evened NU’s series with the Trojans at one game each.
USC took the lead with RBI singles by Kevin Takeuchi in the first and third innings to build a two-run lead for the Trojans. The Cornhuskers responded in the top of the fourth. After a two-run double by Dylan Carey tied the game, Joshua Overbeek hit a two-run double to give Nebraska a 4-2 lead. USC scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take back the lead, 5-4. But in the top of the ninth, Nunez came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Nunez hit a 3-2 pitch up the middle for a single, scoring two runs to give NU the lead.
Luke Broderick earned the win out of the bullpen, throwing 2.1 innings of one-hit, shutout ball. He walked two and struck out three. Ethan Hedges took the loss for USC, allowing two earned runs in an inning. Nunez led the Huskers offensively, hitting 2-for-4 with two RBI. Carey and Overbeek both tallied two RBI. Takeuchi led the Trojans by hitting 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Nebraska and USC play the series finale in Irvine, Calif., starting at 2 p.m. Pregame coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. on KLIN.