Mar. 5, 2011
 
Huskers can't last 11 innings.
 
Lincoln, Neb — In a classic pitching battle that saw only seven combined hits through 11 innings, No. 5 UCLA (7-2) squeaked by Nebraska (6-4) with an unearned run to nab a 1-0 win at Hawks Field on Friday afternoon.

With two outs in the top of the 11th, Dean Espy singled with a hard hit grounder that ricocheted off NU pitcher Casey Hauptman to score Tyler Rahmatulla from third. Rahmatulla hit a one-out single to center and advanced to third after NU first baseman Kurt Farmer attempted to turn a double play, but his throw to second was high, eventually allowing the Bruins to push across the lone run of the day.

"It was a great game, but obviously we want a different result," head coach Mike Anderson said. "Give credit to them, they pitched extremely well. I thought we pitched very well, but the two errors ended up hurting. We had some opportunities to drive some runs in and didn't get it done. You've got to take advantage of your opportunities and we didn't."

Farmer extended his team-best hit streak to nine games in the loss as he was responsible for one of NU's three hits on the day. Farmer's hit was a single through the left side to lead off the ninth and eventually helped Nebraska load the bases with a chance to win before Josh Scheffert struck out to force extra innings.

The ninth inning ended the day for UCLA starter Gerrit Cole, a 2010 second-team All-American who gave up only two hits and struck out eight. His counterpart, NU's Jon Keller, was spectacular as well as the freshman shut out the fifth-ranked Bruins in six innings, while giving up only one hit and striking out a season-high eight batters on 107 pitches. After starting three games, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa native holds a 0.00 ERA and has struck out 15 hitters in 14 1/3 innings.

Hauptman relieved Keller to start the seventh inning and was very impressive, going five innings and striking out five while giving up only three hits, two of which came in the 11th inning. The senior from Omaha is tied with Keller for the team strikeout lead (15) and has a 0.61 ERA in four appearances this year.

Cole took a perfect game into the seventh inning when Cody Asche tabbed a two-out single through the right side of the infield. Kash Kalkowski also had a two-out single in the 10th inning, which was NU's final hit of the day after Farmer's leadoff single in the ninth.

Keller's day was highlighted when he struck out the heart of the UCLA order in the third inning. The Bruins put together their biggest threat on the Husker freshman in the first by loading the bases via two walks and a hit by pitch with two outs, but Chad Christensen and Bryan Peters turned a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the inning. Hauptman sat down the first eight UCLA hitters he faced until a two-out single from Cody Keefer in the ninth. He added his third 3-up, 3-down inning in the 10th.

"(Jon) Keller did a good job," Anderson said. "He was up in the zone, but he was still getting outs. He got out of the first inning and after that I thought he rolled for a little while. I thought Casey (Hauptman) did a very good job. The pitching job was outstanding. I'm proud of the kids. We just couldn't get that clutch hit when we needed it today."

The game marked Nebraska's first extra-inning affair at Hawks Field since March of 2008. It was also the Huskers' first 1-0 loss in the 10-year history of the ballpark.

Nebraska and UCLA will meet in the second game of the series Saturday afternoon at 2:05 p.m., while Sunday's finale will take place at 1:05 p.m.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.