There has been celebrations aplenty for the Nebraska baseball team throughout the first month of the season.
And for good reason.
The Huskers (10-5) have rattled off a .667 winning percentage through the season’s first 15 games, having won nine of their last 12 including three consecutive series victories in the past three weekends — plus a two-game road split against Wichita State.
Nebraska has spent a ton of time in the Top 5 in the national RPI rankings throughout March, and now it will have a chance to do more damage against a red-hot Nicholls State team (17-3) that has won nine of its last 10.
Below is a preview of what's on tap for Nebraska and Nicholls State with the starting pitching matchups, the most important stats to know, keystone players to watch during the series and more.
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How to Watch or Listen
WHEN: Friday-Sunday (March 15-17)
WHERE: Hawks Field at Haymarket Park (Lincoln, Neb.)
WATCH: All three games will be streamed live on B1G+
LISTEN: Huskers Radio Network with Greg Sharpe (play by play) and Ben McLaughlin (color) on the call.
>> Every game this season can be heard for free on Huskers.com and the Official Nebraska Huskers App for both iOS and android devices.
Pitching Matchups
Friday, March 15 – 6:05 p.m.
RHP Drew Christo (1-1, 5.68 ERA) vs. RHP Jacob Mayers (2-0, 2.70 ERA)
Saturday, March 16 – 2:05 p.m.
RHP Brett Sears (2-0, 1.78 ERA) vs. LHP Jack Nelson (0-0, 4.91 ERA)
Sunday, March 17 – 12:05 p.m.
RHP Ty Horn (1-0, 2.79 ERA) vs. LHP Michael Quevedo (3-0, 3.22 ERA)
All times Central
NOTES:
>> Christo takes the mound Friday night after suffering his first loss of the season in the series opener vs. South Alabama last weekend. The Elkhorn, Neb., native is 1-1 on the season with a 5.68 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 19 innings.
>> Sears is set to toe the rubber on Saturday afternoon. Sears is 2-0 in four starts, posting a 1.78 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 25.1 innings, while holding opponents to a .125 hitting clip.
>> Horn gets the nod for the second consecutive Sunday. Horn is 1-0 on the season with a save and a 2.79 ERA in 9.2 innings across four appearances.
Series History
>> Nebraska is 5-2 in the all-time series against Nicholls after taking two of three games in a relocated series played last season in Manhattan, Kan.
>> The Huskers held on for a 2-1 win in seven innings in the series opener and rolled to a 17-1 rout of the Colonels in game two.
>> The Big Red are 2-1 against Nicholls in Lincoln after winning the series against the Colonels at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park in 2016.
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Player Spotlight
All game notes courtesy of Nebraska Athletics
Sears has been one of best pitchers in college baseball over the first month
>> Sears limited South Alabama to just two runs on four hits in his fourth start last Saturday night, notching his third consecutive quality start for the Huskers.
>> The right-hander has struck out seven-plus batters in four consecutive starts to begin the season, with opponents hitting just .125 (11-for-88) against Sears.
>> Sears’ eight innings on Saturday were the most by a Husker since Will Walsh tossed a complete game against Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament last season.
>> In three starts, Sears is 2-0 with a 1.78 ERA and is one of two starting pitchers in Division I this season with 25-plus innings pitched, 28-plus strikeouts and five earned runs or fewer.
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Stone cleans up, heats up
>> Husker cleanup hitter Tyler Stone has hits in 10 of his last 11 starts, going 15-for-46 (.326) over that stretch with three doubles, four home runs and 15 RBI.
>> Stone has five games this season with multiple RBI, which is the most by a Husker this season and leads all qualified Nebraska hitters with a .947 OPS.
>> The Scottsdale, Ariz., native has multiple runs in each of his last three games, becoming the fifth Husker this season to post a double-digit run total.
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Brumbaugh gets ‘em going
>> Cayden Brumbaugh has been a force in the leadoff spot for the Huskers, leading Nebraska with 17 hits and six multi-hit efforts through the first 15 games.
>> Brumbaugh has hits in nine of his last 10 games, going 15-for-44 (.341) over that stretch with five doubles, four RBI and eight runs scored.
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Evans provides spark for Husker bats
>> Cole Evans became the second Husker this season to post four or more hits in a game, finishing 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI in an 8-6 win at Wichita State on Tuesday.
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Overbeek returns to Nebraska lineup
>> Joshua Overbeek returned to the lineup at third base for the Huskers at Wichita State on Wednesday for the first time since Feb. 17 vs. Oklahoma, going 1-for-4 with a double.
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Buettenback’s unique feat for Career Hit Number 1
>> Max Buettenback picked up his first career home run in a pinch-hitting appearance in the ninth inning at Wichita State on Wednesday, slugging an inside-the-park home run down the left-field line.
>> With the homer, Buettenback recorded Nebraska’s first inside-the-park homer since Joe Acker vs. Rutgers in 2021.
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