Nebraska BSB: Rotation & players to watch in home opener vs. South Alabama

Nebraska baseball has not gotten off to this strong of a start in quite a long time – 16 years, to be exact.

The Huskers (7-3) have not raced out of the gate with a record as good as 7-3 since 2008. They will be looking to tack onto their explosive first month in friendly confines this time around as they host their first homestand of the season this weekend. They will welcome a South Alabama team that has gotten off to a similarly impressive start to the season.

The Jaguars (10-3) have won five of their past eight games and nearly made it six of eight but blew a one-run lead in the eighth inning to New Orleans on Wednesday night in a 7-5 loss.

It's another good challenge for Will Bolt and the Huskers – who are ranked No. 6 nationally in RPI after being ranked as high as No. 3 after their first 10 games – in facing another tough opponent that will likely be in a good position to reach the NCAA Tournament by season's end.

“It's what we've always tried to do from a scheduling perspective,” Bolt said when asked about the RPI and the Huskers challenging themselves with a strong early-season nonconference slate. “Last year, it just didn't play out that way as much. But, yeah, we've taken on some teams that have really good records up to this point. And South Alabama being no exception. They're coming in with a 10-2 mark and could be 11-2 after (Wednesday’s game).

“But, really, what we're trying to do with scheduling is schedule good opponents that typically are Top 100 RPI teams. And if you can win those games and set yourself up for success – and obviously winning on the road helps. I know we're in a great spot now. It's better to be where we're at than the alternative. But it's so fluid. There's a lot of moving parts, and you just gotta keep winning. That’s really the end of (the conversation).”

Below is a preview of what's on tap for Nebraska and South Alabama with the starting pitching matchups, the most important stats to know, keystone players to watch during the series and more.

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WHEN: Friday-Sunday (March 8-10)

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.

>> FRIDAY – 4:05 p.m.

RHP Drew Christo (1-0, 3.07 ERA) vs. RHP Carson Swilling (1-1, 3.07 ERA)

>> SATURDAY – 2:05 p.m.

RHP Brett Sears (1-0, 1.56 ERA) vs. LHP Cam Hill (2-0, 1.13 ERA)

>> SUNDAY – 12:05 p.m.

RHP Ty Horn (1-0, 1.35 ERA) vs. RHP Cade Carlson (0-1, 6.55 ERA)

All times Central

NOTES:

>> With two weekend starters taken in the 2023 MLB Draft, it’s a new-look weekend rotation for the Huskers this year.

>> Christo takes the mound Friday night after posting back-to-back quality starts at Grand Canyon and College of Charleston. The Elkhorn, Neb., native is 1-0 on the season with a 3.07 ERA and eight strikeouts in 14.2 innings.

>> Sears is set to toe the rubber on Saturday afternoon. Sears is 1-0 in three starts, posting a 1.56 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 17.1 innings, while holding opponents to a .117 hitting clip.

>> Horn gets the nod for his first collegiate start on Sunday afternoon. The true freshman is 1-0 on the season with a save and a 1.35 ERA in 6.2 innings across three relief appearances.

>> Nebraska is 3-0 in the all-time series after sweeping a three-game series last season in the first all-time meeting between the Huskers and Jaguars.

>> The Big Red came away with a 5-4 win in the series opener before rolling past the Jaguars with victories of 15-3 and 9-3 in games two and three, respectively.

>> Nebraska is 48-6 in its home openers since the 1970 campaign and is 20-1 in home openers since the opening of Haymarket Park in 2002. That includes four straight wins in home openers ever since losing to Cal Poly in 2018.

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All game notes courtesy of Nebraska Athletics

>> Nebraska is off to its best 10-game start since 2008 with a 7-3 mark through the first three weekends of the season.

>> Since going 8-2 in 2008, the Big Red have won six of its first 10 games in six seasons, never reaching the seven-win mark until this year.

>> Additionally, the Huskers bring their best record for a home debut since the 2006 campaign.

>> Entering this weekend’s action, Nebraska is the only team in the country to not have an opponent attempt a stolen base on them.

>> Nebraska is one of four teams nationally to surrender three or less stolen bases to opponents this season, joining Florida State as the only two Power Five teams.

Sears shines in starting role:

>> Sears limited Charleston to just two hits in his third start last Saturday, notching his second consecutive quality start of the season.

>> The right-hander has struck out seven-plus batters in three straight starts to begin the season, with opponents hitting just .117 (7-for- 60) against Sears.

>> In three starts, Sears is 1-0 with a 1.56 ERA and is one of five starting pitchers in Division I this season with 17-plus innings pitched, 21-plus strikeouts, three earned runs or fewer and less than three walks.

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Christo’s consecutive career outings:

>> Christo tossed a career-high 6.2 innings for the Huskers in the series opener at Charleston, allowing four hits and a pair of earned runs against the Cougars.

>> Christo’s outing (6.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER) gives him quality starts in back-to-back appearances, as the right-hander has a 2.13 ERA across his last two starts.

>> The Elkhorn, Neb., native retired his final 10 batters faced at Charleston, striking out a pair of batters and holding the Cougars scoreless in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

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Caron’s RBI production through 10 games:

>> Josh Caron has been a key piece to the NU offense through the first three weekends, hitting .286 at the plate with a triple, three home runs, 13 RBI and seven runs.

>> Since 2005, Caron is one of five Huskers to drive in 12-plus runs in Nebraska’s first 10 games to start the season. Caron’s 13 RBI are tied for third-most, trailing Adam Bailey (2009) and Aaron Palensky (2020).

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Silva an offensive catalyst:

>> Since moving up in the lineup to the No. 2 spot for the NU offense, Riley Silva has gone 10-for-24 (.417) at the plate with a double and two RBI.

>> Silva leads the Huskers with a .533 on-base percentage and has reached base in all 10 games to begin the season, including all five plate appearances in the series finale at Charleston.

>> The Cambridge, Ontario, native paces the Big Red in runs (13) and stolen bases (9), making him one of eight DI players with those marks this season as of March 4.

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Leading off with Brumbaugh:

>> Cayden Brumbaugh has been a force in leadoff spot for the Huskers, leading Nebraska with 15 hits

>> The redshirt sophomore has five multi-hit performances, tying Riley Silva for the team lead.

>> Brumbaugh has hit in his last eight games, the longest active streak by a Husker, going 13-for- 38 (.342) over the stretch with six runs, three doubles and four RBI.

>> The Edmond, Okla., native is one of four Huskers to start all 10 games this season (Caron, Carey and Silva) and is averaging 4.9 plate appearances per game.

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Timely two-out hitting:

>> Through the first three weekends of the season, the NU offense has found success at the plate with two outs.

>> Nebraska is hitting .300 (36-for-120) and has recorded 22 of its 50 RBI this season with two outs.

>> 12 Huskers have recorded a two-out hit through the first 10 games, including four Huskers with at least four hits.

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Small-ball approach added to Big Red offense:

>> After bashing a school-record 97 homers last season, the Husker offense has shifted to a small-ball approach to begin the 2024 campaign.

>> Nebraska ranks sixth nationally with 13 sacrifice bunts on the season, led by Riley Silva’s team-leading three sacrifice bunts in the first 10 games.

>> The Big Red are one of five teams nationally to steal 15 bases and lay down 13 sacrifice bunts entering the fourth weekend of the season.