Nebraska takes final game of series, 9-1

PEORIA, Ariz.—Colton Shaver’s second-inning home run was one of few bright spots Saturday for BYU baseball as it fell to Nebraska 9-1, at the Peoria Sports Complex.

The freshman’s lead-off 340-foot-plus homer closed the gap to 2-1 in the second inning, taking a first-pitch fastball over the left field fence. But a five-run sixth inning increased Nebraska’s lead to the eventual 9-1 margin in front of a crowd of 1,914.

“We weren’t real sharp on the mount today and Nebraska made us pay for it,” BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. “What makes them a great team is they just grind out at-bats and don’t give in.”

The Cornhuskers improved their record to 4-3, while BYU drops to 1-7. The Cougars used five pitchers, starting with Salt Lake Community College transfer Brady Corless who left the game in the third when Nebraska took a 3-1 lead.

The Huskers stopped BYU’s threats in the second, fourth and fifth innings. Following Shaver’s dinger, the first of the season for the Cougars, Eric Urry and Bronson Larsen hit consecutive two-out singles, but were left aboard. 

In the fourth frame, Dallen Reber led off with a double to left field but was stranded with a teammate on first. In the fifth Tanner Chauncey looped a one-out single to center and made it to second on a passed ball. He was joined on base when Shaver drew a walk on four straight balls before Reber flew out to center field to end the inning.

Cougar second baseman Chauncey left the game with a tight hamstring in the seventh inning after he beat out a single to shortstop.

“We are playing solid baseball right now, and when we start getting some timely hitting, it will be the difference between winning games and losing games,” Littlewood said.

The Cougars now ready for a four-game series starting Thursday against Oklahoma, but the location may be moved to Dallas pending the weather situation.