Mac Moyer leads off this advance for Nebraska baseball’s weekend series at Auburn, which seems reasonable since he’s appears to have solidified himself as the Huskers’ lead-off hitter.
Why not lead-off “batter?” Moyer is second on the team to Dylan Carey in batting average, .438 to Carey’s .455, and leads in walks with eight. Moyer “kinda started with just having good at-bats, not necessarily getting hits, so he was coming off the bench late in games and getting an at-bat,” Coach Will Bolt said of Moyer’s first three appearances, in which he went 1-for-3.
But Moyer started the fourth game, went 4-4, and started all three games last weekend.
“He’s made it impossible for us to do anything else, other than play him every day,” said Bolt. “You get your opportunity, make it so obvious we have to leave you in there. He’s done a great job of that.”
The junior transfer from San Jacinto College “has a high baseball IQ,” Bolt said.
That stands to reason. Moyer’s dad, Jamie, pitched 25 seasons in the major leagues and both of his older brothers were good enough baseball players to be drafted.
Now for this weekend…
The 4-3 Huskers will play an Auburn team ranked seventh nationally. The Tigers went 3-0 in Arlington, Texas. “We saw ‘em all weekend,” said Bolt. “It’s going to be a great test for our guys.”
The series could have post-season implications. “We put ourselves in position with our schedule to have a chance to grab some good RPI games, RPI points, and this will be another opportunity,” Bolt said.
Plus, he and pitching coach Rob Childress like Auburn’s ballpark, in which Texas A&M played when they were coaching the Aggies, Childress the head coach, Bolt an assistant.
Nebraska’s pitching rotation will be the same as in Arlington, Texas, Ty Horn Friday (6 p.m. CT), Carson Jasa Saturday (2 p.m.) and Gavin Blachowicz Sunday (1 p.m.). Blachowicz’s performance in last Sunday’s 10-1 victory against Florida State helped solidify his place in the starting rotation.
Blachowicz and Horn are tied for the team lead with earned-run-averages of 1.86. Both have pitched 9.2 innings, Blachowicz allowing only three hits. Both have struck out 11.
Jasa leads the team with 17 strikeouts in 10.2 innings.
Blachowicz, who moved up to third in the rotation because of Cooper Katskee’s illness issues, has retained the spot, with Katskee coming out of the bullpen. “Blachowicz isn’t going anywhere,” said Bolt. “He’s not given up a lot of barrels, so he’s solidified there for now.”
The sophomore right-hander made 17 appearances last season, all in relief. He was 3-0 with a 3.80 ERA. Starting is different. You have to be able to “pace yourself,” Blachowicz said.
He’s added a change-up and cutter. Plus, “the confidence I have in my teammates to make plays behind me is unbelievable,” he said. “I know every time a ball gets hit there’s a chance it’s (the play) going to be made, no matter how hard. So knowing that is really good.”
As for other numbers seven games into the season, Jasa and relievers Chase Olson and Caleb Clark have the other pitching victories. Kevin Mannell has Nebraska’s lone save.
Jett Buck is also batting over .400 (.414), followed by Joshua Overbeek (.393), Case Sanderson, (360) and Will Jesske (.348). Carey has hit three home runs and driven in 18. Overbeek has driven in 10. Jesske has two home runs. And Sanderson leads the team with eight runs scored.
Despite the three-game losing streak, which included the first two last weekend, “I thought we proved we could play with anybody,” Bolt said.
“And certainly, I feel like we could’ve, and maybe should’ve, won at least one more.”
This led with Moyer, the lead-off hitter. Let’s close with Blachowicz, the Sunday starter. Among the changes he’s made, going from reliever to starter, his pre-game routine has included “listening to a lot more music,” to calm himself … and throwing up, which he’s done before both games, nerves.
That likely will change.
