TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Enough talking, already.

That was the crux of Mike Anderson’s brief chat with his Nebraska baseball team after Alabama handed the Huskers their first shutout in 201 games while rolling to an 8-0 victory in Sewell-Thomas Stadium here Friday night.

Losing for the third time in four decisions to fall to 6-5 on the season, NU looked lethargic on the mound, in the field and at the plate in the battle of nationally ranked, power-conference opponents.

Preseason All-American pitcher Tony Watson gave up five runs in the opening two innings and left after 51/3, having allowed all eight runs — the most he’d surrendered in 43 career outings.

Nebraska also committed an error that led to three unearned runs during the Crimson Tide’s four-run second.

And Husker hitters were baffled by left-handed sophomore Miers Quigley, who gave up just three hits in seven innings.

“You’ve got to give Miers Quigley a lot of credit … but I’m extremely surprised at our lack of competitiveness. Extremely,” Anderson said. “I heard a lot of adjustment talk this week, and unfortunately it’s talk. Until we start putting things into action, we’re going to have a lot of nights like this.”

The Crimson Tide (13-4) did more damage with their bats in two innings Friday than they did last season over 29 innings while scoring just four runs and losing three games to NU in Lincoln.

Watson, who started the game by giving up a single to Emeel Salem and RBI double to Jake Smith, allowed a triple to Brandon May and RBI single to Jared Avchen with one out in the second.

Greg Paiml then reached when catcher Jeff Lanning fumbled his bunt for an error before Watson walked Salem on four pitches. The left-handed junior gave himself a chance to avoid further damage by getting Smith on a fly out to right field that had all runners holding. But Alex Avila then ripped his next pitch to the center field wall for a three-run triple, and the rout was on.

“The first couple innings and last couple innings is kind of where a game gets its vibe,” Quigley said, “and we definitely came out swinging the stick.”

Against a sophomore who improved to 3-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.15, the night would only get longer for the Huskers.

“We just didn’t have it tonight, I guess,” left fielder Andy Gerch said. “We’re not tired (from having played every game on the road). We’re just not getting it done right now.

“We need to kind of re-evaluate our situations, and people need to step up. Everybody, one through nine in the lineup, needs to rethink what they’re doing and get it done.”

Nebraska had been ranked as high as No. 7, but following a 1-2 showing at the Stetson Invitational was listed no higher than 17th this week. Unless the Huskers change their fortunes against Bama today or Sunday, they’re bound to wind up further south.

“Our team’s not played good baseball yet. We know what our expectations are and we just haven’t played up to it yet,” Gerch said. “It’s going to happen. We’re just going to keep fighting away and just some things have to change. A change here and there, we’ll be rolling.”

After watching his club get blanked for the first time since the 2003 finale in the NCAA regional against Southwest Missouri State, it’s doubtful Anderson is putting much stock in such promises.

Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.