LINCOLN, Neb. --- The UC Irvine pitching staff gave up a season-high 13 runs in the opening game of the doubleheader to lose 13-4 Saturday at Haymarket Park.
Elliot Surrey logged his shortest start of the year, pitching 3.2 innings and giving up five runs on eight hits to fall to 1-2 in the most lopsided loss of the year for the 'Eaters.
Nebraska got to Surrey in the bottom of the first, hitting a leadoff double and a bunt single to put runners on first and third. Surrey looked to have induced a tailor-made double-play grounder to third, but a fielding error allowed a runner to score and set up a first-and-third situation. Pat Kelly hit a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 2-0 before Surrey popped up Tanner Lubach and the 'Eaters snuffed out a stolen base attempt.
Surrey labored in the second, giving up three one-out hits with Ty Kildow driving in a run to widen the margin to three runs. The 'Huskers continued the offense in the third with Lubach hitting a two-run home run for the 5-0 lead.
UCI got on the scoreboard, scoring twice to cut into the 'Husker lead on a clutch two-out single by Kris Paulino to drive in Justin Castro and a Nebraska error that allowed Mikey Duarte to score.
However, Nebraska continued to apply pressure, roughing up reliever Michael Miller in the fifth as the right-hander gave up three consecutive singles and a two-out double for an 8-2 lead. Miller would give up four runs on four hits in an inning of work.
Michael Martin was unable to cool the Nebraska bats, giving up three runs on five hits in an inning of work as the lead inflated to 12-3.
Evan Manarino logged 2.1 innings to close out the game, striking out two and surrendering an unearned run on two hits.
UCI tacked on single runs in the eighth on a solo home run by Sparks and one in the ninth on a single by Grant Palmer.
Castro led UCI at the plate, batting 3 for 4 with a run scored while Connor Spencer added a pair of hits.
NU starter Christian DeLeon dealt eight inning and limited UCI to three runs on eight hits to improve to 2-1. Lubach and Ryan Boldt combined for eight runs batted in for Nebraska.
Game two is set to start at 3:25 p.m. (CT) with Evan Brock on the mound for the Anteaters and will be opposed by 'Husker ace, Chace Sinclair.
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