Stryker Report: Shutdown pitching, Hagge defensive heroics bite ASU

The dogs of Lincoln showed up for “Bark in the Park” Saturday, May 11, as Nebraska faced Arizona State, a team with a lot of bite in its lineup. The Sun Devils’ highly touted offense smashed four home runs against the Huskers the previous night, but could not get any traction on this day against Husker starter Nate Fisher, who tied his career high with seven strikeouts.

The Huskers had to scratch and claw for a 2-1 win Saturday. Ths single by Colby Gomes drove home the second and final run, but it was enough because of strong pitching and a defensive effort led by outfielder Mojo Hagge, who made a great diving catch in the fifth inning.

Fisher went 5 and one-third innings before getting into trouble, but Robbie Palkert came in and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.

The Sun Devils threatened again in the eighth, but Palkert got two of his six strikeouts to turn them away.

Gomes came in for the ninth, and immediately allowed a base hit to put the tying run on. After a fielder’s choice for the first out, Hagge climbed the wall in left field to make the play of the game.

A strikeout by Gomes finished it, and coach Darin Erstad saluted his pitching and defense.