In a classic pitching duel that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Nebraska baseball (34-12, 17-5) came up just short against Ohio State (22-21, 11-11) on Friday night, falling 2-1 in the series opener. The Huskers traveled east for this Big Ten clash, but despite a late-game rally, they couldn't quite overcome the Buckeyes' early lead.

Both teams managed just four hits apiece, showcasing a night where pitchers dominated and bats went quiet. Ohio State struck first in the second inning, manufacturing a run on two hits and a sacrifice fly. They added another in the fourth, capitalizing on a double, a groundout, and another sacrifice fly to build a 2-0 advantage.

Nebraska refused to go down quietly. In the top of the ninth, they finally broke through, plating a run and putting the tying run on third base with two outs. But Ohio State's defense held firm, recording the final out to seal the victory.

On the mound, Carson Jasa (8-2) delivered a gritty performance in his fifth start of the season. Despite surrendering both Buckeye runs, Jasa battled through 6.0 innings, striking out three while allowing four hits and three walks. Reliever Ty Horn took over for the final 2.0 innings, fanning three batters to keep Nebraska within striking distance.

Offensively, Drew Grego drove in the Huskers' lone run with a sacrifice grounder, finishing 1-for-3 at the plate. Mac Moyer, Jeter Worthley, and Trey Fikes each added a hit, but the lineup couldn't string together enough offense to complete the comeback.

With the series now underway, Nebraska will look to bounce back in game two on Saturday night. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT on BTN, and the Huskers will need to find more offensive rhythm to even things up against a tough Buckeye squad.