Nebraska Baseball Win Part of Busy Big Ten Thursday
The Nebraska baseball team’s win over Indiana was just one of a couple of upsets during Big Ten play as the conference entered its final weekend of the regular season.
The Nebraska baseball team is staking it’s claim as one of the best teams in the Big Ten, but it apparently has some competition. The Huskers upended the Indiana Hoosiers on Thursday night, marking one slight upset. Ohio State took down the Minnesota Golden Gophers, and that upset has a few more repercussions.
The Buckeyes are currently right there in the Big Ten standings with the Huskers as the teams are currently seeded third and fourth. Minnesota is leading the Big Ten conference standings and, at least for now is ranked 24th in the country. OSU rallied late in the game after trailing until the 7th inning. One run in that frame and another in the top of the 9th allowed the Buckeye to topple the Gophers.
Had Illinois managed to score a run or two, another upset could have been had. Instead, the team that was one of the best in the conference a few years ago continued its struggles. The Michigan Wolverines continued to prep for their tryout for the Big Ten tournament title by shutting out the Illini 1-0.
While neither team is anywhere near getting to the top of the Big Ten conference, one of the matchups that have the most implications for the tournament is going on this weekend as well. The Iowa Hawkeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions are squaring off, and the outcome of the series will likely determine who is the eighth team in the tourney.
The Big Ten only takes the top eight teams, and currently, Iowa is ranked 9th, while PSU would be in if the tournament ended today. The Hawkeyes kept their chances for a postseason alive with a 3-2 victory on Thursday night. The Iowa victory means both teams are 11-11 in Big Ten contests.
Maryland’s 6-3 victory over Michigan State put the Terapins on even more solid footing when it comes to making the Big Ten tournament. The seventh seed coming into the weekend, their win vaults them over the Spartans by a slot. Michigan State is struggling mightily at exactly the wrong time of year. Thursday’s loss was their fourth straight defeat and sixth in their last 10 games.
In the “playing for pride” part of the Big Ten conference schedule, Northwestern was able to thump Rutgers 5-1. The Scarlet Knights and the Wildcats are ranked 11th and 12th in conference and neither have a shot to make to postseason tournament.
One team, the Purdue Boilermakers have already mercifully finished their conference slate for the year. I say mercifully because the team posted a conference record of 2-22. They’re not that much better outside the conference as they have an overall record of 8-43.
Next: Scott Schreiber Is On a Hot Streak For The Record Books For Nebraska Baseball
The Boilermakers are finishing their season against Cal State Northridge. Despite Northridge having a legit chance at the postseason thanks to a 31-18 overall record and a 10-11 record in conference, Purdue won the Thursday night game 5-0. Games are already ongoing again today with a primetime matchup of Ohio State and Minnesota being televised starting at 6:30 central on the Big Ten Network.