Husker Corner
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Husker Baseball: Scouting the Wolverines

By Kelli Anne

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Husker baseball opens up conference play against the Michigan Wolverines Friday night at 6:35 at Hawks Field. So far the Big Red has been playing well and enters B1G Ten play at 14-6, having played some of the highest ranked competition they will face this season, and winning the last 7. LSU, Texas A&M, UNLV and Indiana State all had an RPI of 37 or lower last year. Only Indiana and Maryland were ranked higher last year but Huskers won’t face Indiana this season.

Michigan had an RPI last year of 110 (Huskers 32). They come to Lincoln with a road record of 11-8 having not yet played a home game. Most recently Michigan lost the weekend series against Kansas and didn’t play a weekday game. Their current stats can be found here.

Hey Batter Batter (photo Kelli Anne)

Beware of Batter: Jackson Glines who leads the B1g Ten (of at least double-digit at bats) with a .475 batting average, and on base percentage of .569. He leads the conference with 28 hits. He was Player of the Week March 2 based on 8 for 13 (.615) performance at the plate. He’s not alone either as the BLUE leads the conference in hits with 197, 40 doubles and 2nd in batting average at .302. Sophomore Carmen Benedetti has the conference record for RBIs at 21 and 7 doubles. Kendall Patrick had 2 homers against Kansas this past weekend.

Juniors Cody Bruder and Jacob Cronenworth each come to the plate with a .338 batting average. He also throws! Cronenworth was named to the 11the annual Stopper of the year Award given to the top relief pitcher in Div I baseball. He is also on the First Team Preseason All-American list and is 2nd for hits in the B1G Ten with 26. Bruder is tied for 4th on that list with 25 hits.

Pitching: On the mound Friday will be lefty Brett Adcock and for the Huskers it’s Chance Sinclair. Adcock has an era of 4.01 in 6 games, 24.2 IP, 17 hits, 16 walks and an impressive 24 strike outs. He is the only Michigan pitcher of the top 3 to have given up a triple and a homer.

Kyle Kubat will compete against freshman RHP Ryan Nutof who  is 1-1 with 5 games so far, 2.67 ERA with 27 IP. He’s solid with 19 Ks and 15 hits but those 15 walks are something for the Huskers to remain patient for at the plate. Kubat had the best record against the Wolverines in the B1G Ten tournament, winning both last year. Nutof’s only given up 4 doubles this year and the rest of the 13 hits were singles. He’s the stingiest of the top 3 rotation for Michigan.

Husker Baseball (photo NU Media Relations)

The pitcher for Sunday versus Burkamper is TBA for Michigan at this point. Keith Lehmann has the next most innings pitched at 21.1 with an ERA of 2.91 in 5 games, allowing 17 hits, 8 walks and 17 Ks.

Friday Husker Noteables: Keep your eye on Catcher Tanner Lubach. When he throws out the next base runner stealing he will tie assistant coach Jeff Christy’s record of 38 caught stealing.

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Clearly Michigan has bats and will travel which makes me wonder why they don’t have a better record. They are ranked below Nebraska in pitching and perhaps that’s the other side of the coin. In comparing the RPIs from last year Michigan beat teams with an RPI of 177 or lower and lost to teams who had an RPI of 172, 118, 102 and 30. (Remember Huskers were 32 last year.) I’m saying if the weather cooperates and it’s expected to be in the low 70’s, I think our pitchers and bullpen will get enough movement on the ball to keep the Wolverines from getting on base, let alone win. Not knowing who they have pitching the 3rd game makes me wonder why it’s not going to be the normal rotation. I’m saying Huskers take the series and could get the sweep!

On Friday, Huskers play at 6:35 and then it’s the normal rotation of lefty Kubat at 2:00 on Saturday, and righty Burkamper for Sunday at 11 am. Huskers are looking to improve on their 7-4 record against Michigan and 7-0 at home. “Hit it where they ain’t” Huskers and GO BIG RED!!!

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