NEB BSB: Minnesota Preview & Notes

NEBRASKA at MINNESOTA

May 3-5, 2024

Minneapolis, Minn. | Siebert Field

Friday, May 3 – 5 p.m. CT

Pitching: RHP Brett Sears (7-0, 1.84 ERA) vs. RHP Will Semb (1-5, 8.13 ERA)

TV/Streaming: B1G+

Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App

Saturday, May 4 – 3 p.m. CT

Pitching: RHP Mason McConnaughey (5-3, 3.40 ERA) vs. LHP Connor Wietgrefe (6-2, 3.18 ERA)

TV/Streaming: B1G+

Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App

Sunday, May 5 – 1 p.m. CT

Pitching: LHP Will Walsh (4-3, 5.05 ERA) vs. TBD

TV/Streaming: B1G+

Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App

Follow the Game

• All three games of this weekend’s series at Minnesota can be seen on B1G+.

• Fans can also listen to Dave Gustafson and Ben McLaughlin call the action this weekend on the Huskers Radio Network.

• Every game this season can be heard for free on Huskers.com and the Official Nebraska Huskers App for both iOS and android devices.

Nebraska vs. Minnesota

• Through 70 all-time meetings, Nebraska holds an 37-32-1 advantage over Minnesota in the all-time series.

• The Huskers visit Minneapolis for the first time since the Gophers took two of three games in 2022.

First Nine-Inning No-Hitter Since 1954

• Junior Jackson Brockett tossed the sixth individual no-hitter in Nebraska baseball history, and the first nine-inning no-hitter since 1954, in Nebraska’s 8-0 win over Kansas State on Wednesday night at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.

• It marked NU’s first individual no-hitter since 1981, when Anthony Kelley didn’t allow a hit over seven innings against the Oklahoma Sooners. It was just the second ever nine-inning individual no-hitter, joining Richard Geier’s no-hitter in 1954 against the Kansas Jayhawks.

• In his first start of the season, Brockett posted a career-high 12 strikeouts on 107 pitches which is the most punchouts by a Husker hurler since Will Walsh last season. The outing was the second complete-game shutout by a Nebraska pitcher this season, joining Brett Sears who tossed a two-hitter against Ohio State earlier this season.

Sears Shines in Starting Role

• Brett Sears leads the nation in WHIP (0.72) and ranks among national leaders in hits allowed/9 inn. (5.52, 11th), allowing just 12 of his 45 hits to go for extra bases, and ERA (1.84, 8th).

• Nebraska is 11-1 this season in games that Sears has started, outscoring opponents 90-26 in those outings.

• Across 11 starts, Sears is 7-0 with a 1.84 ERA and is one of four starting pitchers in DI this season with 65-plus innings pitched, 70-plus strikeouts and 15 earned runs or fewer.

Middle-Third Production Boosting the Big Red

• Nebraska has been successful the second time through the lineup on the mound and in the batter’s box, outscoring opponents 133-55 in the middle-third innings this season.

• The Huskers hold a 51-17 advantage in the fourth inning, while outscoring opponents 39-15 in the fifth inning and 43-23 in the sixth inning.

• The Husker offense is hitting .316 at the plate with 67 extra-base hits and 126 RBI in the fourth through sixth innings, while the NU pitching staff is limiting opponents to a .234 hitting clip and a 3.48 ERA in the middle-third innings.

Efficient Running Game for NU Offense

• With 76 stolen bases on the season, the Big Red have recorded the most swipes in a season since compiling 78 steals in 2008.

• The Huskers have been stealing bases with high efficiency this season, recording the seventh-highest success rate by a Husker offense since 2000.

Stone’s Strong Impact in Return to NU Lineup

• Tyler Stone is leading the Huskers with a .342 batting average along with seven doubles, seven home runs and 28 RBI.

• The Scottsdale, Ariz., native has recorded knocks in 11 of his last 12 games, going 17-for-40 (.425) across that span with a trio of home runs and 13 RBI.

• At home, Stone is batting .404 (24-for-60) with an OPS of 1.131, including hits in 17 of Nebraska’s 22 home games this season.

Caron Named to Buster Posey Award Watch List

• Nebraska catcher Josh Caron was named to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Watch List, the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission last week.

• Caron is hitting .293 at the plate for the Huskers with 13 doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 45 RBI.

Silva’s Speed With Stolen Bases

• Riley Silva is one of five D1 players to steal 27-plus bases and be caught two-or-fewer times, including one of two Power Five players this season.

• Silva is the 10th NU player since 2000 to swipe at least 20 bases, and the first Husker to steal more-than-25 bases in a season since Adam Stern (27) in 2002.

Silva Plunked Seventh-Most Times in Season

• Riley Silva has been hit by pitch 19 times this season, which is seventh-most in program history.

• Silva is two away from reaching a five-way tie for third with Casey Burnham (2023), Kash Kalkowski (2013), Dave Crain (1995) and Derek Dukart (1994).

Worthley, Daiss Holding Down the Husker Bullpen

• NU’s set-up man, Jalen Worthley, is 2-0 with a 3.33 ERA and four saves across a bullpen-high 24.1 innings. The southpaw has made a team-high eight multi-inning relief appearances for NU and punched out 21 batters while issuing just four walks.

• The Huskers’ closer, Casey Daiss, is tied with Worthley in saves (4) with a 2.16 ERA for the Big Red across 16.2 innings of work. Daiss has allowed just two earned runs over his last 12 appearances dating back to the first weekend of the season vs. Oklahoma.

Bats in the Nebraska Lineup

• Case Sanderson has reached base in a team-high 15 games, a streak that started in a weekend matchup vs. Ohio State in early April.

• Dylan Carey has hits in 10 of his last 14 games and ranks second on the Big Red with 12 doubles, raising his batting average from .236 to .253 over that span.

• Cole Evans is hitting .279 with eight doubles, four home runs, and 36 RBI across 43 games, including 37 starts, while Rhett Stokes holds a .327 batting average with nine doubles, a home run and 13 RBI.

• Garrett Anglim has reached base in seven of his last nine games, hitting .274 this season with six doubles, two homers and 22 RBI. Joshua Overbeek is batting .283 with six extra-base hits and 29 runs scored.

Huskers in the Pen

• Rans Sanders has a 2.92 ERA for the Huskers across 12.1 innings with a pair of saves, allowing just four earned runs this season.

• Kyle Perry’s 19 relief appearances lead all NU relievers as the senior is 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA and a career-high tying three saves.

• Evan Borst is limiting opponents to a .150 batting average (6-for-40) this season, posting 14 strikeouts over 11.2 innings of work.

• Kyle Froehlich has appeared in 14 games for the Huskers, punching out 15 batters while issuing just three walks across 14.2 innings.

• Tucker Timmerman leads all Nebraska freshman with 14 relief appearances, tossing 15.2 innings for the Big Red.