• Box Score: Fresno State 10, Nebraska 9, 11 inn.

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FRESNO, Calif. — Nebraska finally appeared ready on Sunday to finish its first win of the baseball season, leading by two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning against Fresno State.

The Huskers had already pounded 13 hits and scored eight runs against the Bulldogs, and reliever Jordan Roualdes was cruising as he took the mound with three outs to record.

But for the second time in three days, Nebraska couldn't close a victory, yielding two runs in the bottom of the ninth and two in the bottom of the 11th to lose 10-9. Brennan Gowens scored the winning run on a wild pitch by reliever Chase Adams with two out as Fresno State took the first three games of this four-game series at Beiden Field.

“We're a little snakebit,” Nebraska coach Mike Anderson said. “That's tough to do that in the third game of the year. I'm not so sure we have that confidence going into the ninth. We need guys to go out there and demonstrate they're ready to finish things off.”

Nebraska had several chances to secure its first win of the season on a chilly, rainy day that started with a 58-minute rain delay.

Anderson elected to send Roualdes to pitch the ninth inning as the Huskers led 8-6 and closer Mike Nesseth warmed up in the bullpen.

Garrett Weber singled to open the bottom of the ninth. The next batter, shortstop Danny Muno, lined a single to center field that skipped under DJ Belfonte's glove and rolled to the wall. Anderson called for Nesseth, who allowed a single to Dusty Robinson that sent the game to extra innings, tied 8-8.

“Roualdes was rolling,” Anderson said of his decision. “You like to give the ball to somebody who is going to get it done and Roualdes was doing it.”

Nebraska responded in the top of the 11th as Adam Bailey reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Trent Garrison. Bailey put the Huskers up 9-8 on a wild pitch by reliever Greg Gonzalez. Nebraska had runners on second and third in the inning, but Khiry Cooper struck out looking to end the rally.

In the bottom of the inning, Muno led off with a walk against Nesseth and scored on Gowens' double to left field as Boomer Collins slipped trying to make the catch. Nesseth intentionally walked Jordan Ribera, and Adams entered from the bullpen. He struck out pinch hitter Scott David for the second out, but Adams then threw a pitch in the dirt that got past catcher Cory Burleson and allowed Gowens to score the winning run.

Nesseth took the loss, his second of the season, after allowing four runs in the ninth inning of the Bulldogs' 7-5 win in the season opener on Friday.

The defeat overshadowed an otherwise solid performance at the plate by the Huskers. Belfonte and Bailey tied career highs with four hits each, including a three-run homer by Bailey in the fourth inning. Freshman Josh Scheffert made his Nebraska debut at designated hitter, finishing 3 for 4 with three RBIs.

“I wish we would have pulled out a win, but that's baseball,” said Scheffert, a former Lincoln Southeast standout. “We had a lot of opportunities we didn't take advantage of today.”

The Huskers pressed the issue on the basepaths, stealing eight bases, but they got greedy in the eighth inning as Collins and Cooper were thrown out at home plate on singles to the outfield. Anderson argued the call against Collins, who appeared to beat the throw.

“I'd send him again,” Anderson said. “On the second play, you have to force them to make a play with two outs.”

The Huskers, off to their first 0-3 start since 1998, will look to salvage a win in the series finale tonight at 8:05.

As Anderson's team slowly filed out of the dugout, he said he thought the Huskers were playing good baseball but that they've struggled to put a whole game together.

“Hopefully, down the road this will help us,” Anderson said, “but it would be nice to get a win for this team.”

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