MESA, Ariz. --- The Northeastern Huskies (0-2) fell to the Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-0) 7-4 on Saturday evening at Sloan Park, as part of the 2025 MLB Desert Invitational. After jumping out to an early 3-1 lead thanks to a three-run second inning, the Huskies were unable to hold the advantage, as Nebraska chipped away with two-out rallies throughout the night to pull away for the win.

Graduate transfer Andrew Wertz made his first start in a Northeastern uniform, working three innings and allowing four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three on 64 pitches. Senior Luc Rising took the loss, falling to 0-1 after allowing two runs on five hits across 2.2 innings with two strikeouts.

• A solo home run to left center gave Nebraska a 1-0 lead in the top of the second.
• Northeastern answered immediately in the bottom of the second, and in a big way. With two outs, Eric Cha singled up the middle, and Anthony Ruggiero, making his first career start in the DH spot after coming off the bench the night before at Grand Canyon, ripped a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third. Matt Brinker drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases, and freshman Charlie Criscola, making his collegiate debut at second base, delivered a two-out, two-strike double to left field that cleared the bases for three RBIs and a 3-1 Northeastern lead.
• Nebraska answered right back in the top of the third, however, stringing together a walk, an error, a double, and an RBI single to plate three runs and retake the lead at 4-3.
• The Cornhuskers added two more in the sixth on a pair of singles followed by a two-out, two-RBI double to extend the lead to 6-3.
• Northeastern got a run back in the bottom of the fifth when Criscola reached on a throwing error, stole second, and scored on an RBI single through the right side by Musacchia to tie it at 4-4. Musacchia went on to steal second and third in the inning, but was left stranded.
• Nebraska tacked on an insurance run in the seventh on a fielding error followed by a sacrifice fly to make it 7-4.
• Ryan Griffin worked two scoreless innings of relief, allowing three hits but stranding both inherited runners from Rising's outing. James Morice and Nick Coniglio each recorded 0.2 innings to close out the game.
• Criscola finished 1-for-4 with three RBIs in his collegiate debut, while Musacchia went 2-for-5 with an RBI. The two accounted for all four Northeastern RBIs on the night. Ruggiero went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks in his first career start at DH.
• The Huskies were aggressive on the basepaths, stealing five bases in the game — Musacchia swiped two, Aschettino took two, and Criscola added one.
• Five of Nebraska's seven runs came with two outs, as the Cornhuskers went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position and took advantage of a pair of Northeastern errors.

The Huskies continue play in the MLB Desert Invitational on Sunday, February 15th at 1 p.m. MT, 3 p.m. ET against the Iowa Hawkeyes.