As you no doubt know, Nebraska baseball has won 14 of its last 15 games, beginning with an 11-game winning streak. The Huskers have been impressive following a 5-5 start.
The streak of victories isn’t the focus, however. The next game is.
“I think standing where your feet are at is the most important thing, as we keep going on (through) the year,” freshman catcher Jeter Worthley said before practice Thursday.
“Because at the end of the day, the most important day is today. So as we get out there and practice today, we’ve just got to make sure we continue to keep getting better, and we can’t get too high on where we’re at because there’s a lot of season left.”
Next up for 19-6 Nebraska is a three-game series with Indiana, beginning Friday, at Haymarket Park. The Hoosiers are 10-14, including 3-6 in the Big Ten. The Huskers are 5-1.
“So even though it’s good to reflect on what we’ve been able to do to this point, I just think that’s all in the past now, and we’ve just gotta continue to keep building,” said Worthley, who’s hitting .310, with six doubles and six runs-batted-in — and has moved up to second in the order.
Coach Will Bolt had a similar response to the Huskers’ winning run.
“We’re professional reminder-ers as coach,” he said. “I think I’ve heard somebody say that before and I like that one, so I’m stealing that one. That’s constantly what we’re doing, is reminding (players) you’re never as good as you think you are, you’re never as bad as you think you are. So just show up.
“We talk about process a lot, too. Those are things we take real seriously when it comes to showing up and being the same every day, regardless of the result. It starts in practice and it shows up in the games.”
Cooper Katskee is included in the pitching rotation this weekend, replacing Gavin Blachowicz for Sunday’s game. Ty Horn and Carson Jasa remain the first and second starters, respectively.
Katskee is 3-0 with a 2.10 earned-run-average. Blachowicz is 2-1 with a 2.86 ERA.
The change is “kind of a reset, I guess, so to speak,” Bolt said. “It’s not performance-based, obviously. Blachowicz has pitched great, but we went into our season with Katskee number three and Blachowicz our number four and kind of counting on him to be a Tuesday guy.
“It’s just a combination of things, I think. Just for Blachowicz, it’s maybe a load management type situation … not load management, maybe not be the right word. But this is the most he’s ever thrown in college, 100-pitch outings. He did have short rest a couple of weeks ago on the Saturday double-header. We’re just making sure we’re not pushing him too much, physically.”
It’s time on the mound for Katskee, too, who was slated to be the third weekend starter going into the season before health considerations bumped him out fo the starting rotation, with Blachowicz replacing him.
“Katskee, using him, starting him mid-week and then using him in the bullpen (on weekends), I don’t know that’s super sustainable, talking about long-term,” Bolt continued.
The bottom line is “just making sure we take care of those guys, both of them,” said Bolt.
Horn, who has been the Friday starter all season, is 0-1 with a 3.26 ERA. Jasa is 4-1 with a 3.99 ERA. He has struck out a team-high 45 in 29.1 innings.
Mac Moyer leads the team with a .426 batting average. Dylan Carey, second to Moyer in batting average at .381, leads the team with six home runs and 32 runs-batted-in.
Will Jesske, who’s started 11 games before being sidelined by injury, is “trending,” Bolt said, noting Jesske could be the designated hitter or, more likely, a pinch hitter this weekend. He’s not ready to return to the outfield, however. Jesske is hitting .324 with three home runs and 10 RBIs.
Joshua Overbeek, who’s started 22 games at third base, has been out of the lineup not because of injury but “while working through some mechanical things,” said Bolt.
Friday’s game is slated for a 6 p.m. CT start, Saturday’s for 2 p.m., Sunday’s for noon.
