May 1, 2011
 
Baylor Takes Rubber Match from Huskers, 2-0
 
Lincoln, Neb — Max Muncy's sixth inning, 2-run homer was one of just seven combined hits on the day and gave Baylor all it needed to down Nebraska in a 2-0 pitchers duel at Hawks Field on Sunday afternoon. With the setback, the Huskers' attempt at a second straight Big 12 home series win came up short after NU evened the series in Saturday's 6-2 victory.

A day after producing 10 hits, the Huskers were able to tally only three hits in the rubber match, as Baylor starter Brooks Pinckard (4-2) went 7.0 innings and gave up only a pair of singles to Kurt Farmer while striking out five on 103 pitches to earn the win. Nebraska starter Tyler Niederklein (6-2) went toe-to-toe with Pinckard past the halfway point, as the right hander took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of a scoreless game before giving up a single and the 2-run homer to Muncy.

"Tyler Neiderklein pitched extremely well," head coach Mike Anderson said. "(He gave up an) Infield single and then a few pitches later a home run. It was well-pitched game on both sides. Now we have to regroup and with nine Big 12 games left. We will see if we can get things done against Texas, Texas A&M and Missouri."

While Farmer got aboard on singles in the second and seventh innings, Nebraska had its best chance to crack the Baylor pitching staff in the eighth. That was when the Bears brought in reliever Max Garner, who let runners on the corners with two outs for Cody Asche. The junior battled in a 10-pitch at-bat after falling behind 0-2 and eventually struck out to end the threat.

"We had an opportunity with the right guy at the plate," Anderson said. "I'll say it this way, 10 times out of 10, the guy we want coming out of the dugout is Cody Asche. I'm happy he got that opportunity and unfortunately it didn't happen today. I'd love for him to get another opportunity and he will come through next time."

Asche was 4-for-4 in Saturday's 6-2 win, driving in five runs and blasting a pair of homers. He was unable to produce a hit in the rubber match, as only Michael Pritchard added an ninth inning single to account for NU's third hit of the game in addition to Farmer's 2-for-4 day, his 16th multiple-hit game of the season.

The game marked the second time this season Niederklein has taken a no-hitter into the sixth inning (also Creighton on April 5). After Muncy's home run, Niederklein walked Chris Slater and was relieved by Matt Freeman. The senior threw a perfect 1.2 innings that included three strikeouts before Casey Hauptman tossed the final 2.0 innings, giving up no runs and two hits. Niederklein walked the leadoff batter each of the first three innings but kept the Bears scoreless through five as he struck out six in the game and had solid defense in an errorless game for the Huskers.

Nebraska will not have a midweek game this week due to final exams. The Huskers are back in action this weekend with a three-game series against Texas at Hawks Field. The series opener is Friday at 6:35 p.m. For tickets, log on to Huskers.com or call 1-800-8-BIG-RED.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.