Nebraska is slated to play its fifth of 10 Big Ten series this weekend, when the Huskers travel to Iowa City to take on Iowa. The Hawkeyes, 21-10 overall, are 12-3 in conference play, second to UCLA (10-2).
Nebraska is tied with Michigan State for 12th, both 4-8.
The top 12 teams qualify for the Big Ten Tournament, May 20-25 in Omaha.
The Huskers, coming off a series win against Rutgers last weekend, improved to 15-18 in Lawrence, Kansas, Tuesday night, upsetting 22nd-ranked Kansas 7-5. The victory was Nebraska’s fourth against a ranked opponent. The others were Vanderbilt (16), LSU (2) and Oregon State (5).
The Huskers defeated Oregon State twice.
Nebraska snapped a nine-game Kansas winning streak, led by Max Buettenback, who was 3-for-3 with two doubles and three runs-batted-in. The third, with two outs, broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the eighth inning with an infield single, a “two-strike jam job,” Will Bolt said on Huskers.com post-game.
Buettenback was “facing a guy with really good stuff,” said Bolt.
Cael Frost followed with an RBI single, which ensured the victory.
Cayden Brumbaugh singled in a run in the ninth for insurance. He finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Nebraska made the most out of eight hits, including a Will Jesske home run in the second.
“What a night,” said Bolt, who had been frustrated with his team’s play against Rutgers Sunday. “It was an awesome performance by our guys, coming out ready to play, scoring early, on the barrel a ton, took a couple of magnificent plays on their part to keep us off the board more than that.”
As for Nebraska’s pitching, the Huskers used nine, including closer Luke Broderick in the ninth. He walked one, allowed a hit and a run, but the final out was a strikeout to ensure his sixth save. Nebraska pitchers allowed only four other hits but walked nine, including Broderick’s.
OK, the stage is set for an important weekend. Oh yes, Iowa defeated Milwaukee Tuesday night, 11-6, the Hawkeyes’ seventh victory in their last eight games.
Going into the Milwaukee game, Iowa was hitting .316 as a team, and no, that’s not a misprint. Four Hawkeyes with 103 or more official at-bats were hitting .327 or higher, led by Gable Mitchell, .365 with two home runs and 26 RBIs. Reese Mooe was hitting .350 and leading the team with nine home runs and 33 RBIs. Ben Wilmes was hitting .330, with two home runs and 23 RBIs, Miles Risley .327, with four home runs, 31 RBIs.
By comparison, Nebraska is hitting .269 as a team. Three Huskers have 101 or more official at-bats, led by Case Sanderson, 307. Cayden Brumbaugh is batting .304, Dylan Carey .283. Buettenback, with 60 official at-bats, leads the team with a .317 average, five home runs and 18 RBIs. He’s tied with Carey for the team lead in home runs. Carey leads the Huskers with 28 RBIs. Brumbaugh has 20.
Iowa’s team ERA was 3.73 before the Milwaukee game. The Hawkeyes’ weekend starters have been left-hander Cade Obermueller, 3-2 with a 2.51 earned-run-average and one complete game; right-hander Aaron Savary, 5-0, 3.43; and right-hander Reece Beuter 4-0, 4.21.
Four Hawkeyes have 11 or more relief appearances. Six losses have been charged to relievers.
Nebraska has a 5.80 team ERA. The Huskers’ presumed weekend starters remain: Will Walsh, 4-4 with a 4.36 ERA; Jackson Brockett, 0-3, 4.91 ERA; and Ty Horn, 0-4, 7.25 ERA. Drew Christo has been the busiest reliever, with a 1-1 record, 5.74 ERA and one save in 15 appearances. As noted earlier, Broderick is the closer. In addition to the six saves, he’s 2-0 with a 3.29 ERA.
Lots of numbers here. But the only ones that count are victories.
