Nebraska Baseball Falls Flat In Regional Opener Against Oklahoma State
The Nebraska baseball team’s offense is still MIA and the team’s pitching staff is struggling to dominate the way it had to end the regular season.
Having said that, it’s hardly a shock the Huskers lost their regionals opening game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Cornhuskers had a chance to do some damage to start the game when Jake Meyers singled and reached second on a balk and Miller walked. That means Scott Schreiber, who has missed the last four games with a lower ab strain had a chance to drive in a run with two out, but he popped out to end the inning.
The bottom of the first could have been worse than it turned out to be. Freshman starter Matt Waldron allowed the first five batters to reach thanks to four singles and a bit by pitch. The team’s ace was able to gather himself and struck out the fifth and sixth batters in the inning before getting a ground out to end the inning.
Unfortunately for the Nebraska baseball team, Waldron simply didn’t have it on Friday morning, and he continued to struggle through just 3.1 innings. Those struggles included eight hits and two walks, as well as a hanging curve in the 3rd that was launched into the seats by OSU’s Conor Costello for a two-run home run.
The only homer of the day put the Cowboys up 4-0 and seemed to put the game out of reach for an offense that has scored just three runs in its last 29 innings. Oklahoma State scratched out runs in the fourth and the 7th to reach the final score of 6-0.
Nebraska’s best chance to score a run came in the top of the 6th inning when Meyers singled, and Miller walked. Schreiber then hit an infield single that loaded the bases with one out. Unfortunately for the Nebraska baseball team, the next two batters struck out to end the inning.
The Huskers managed just two base runners over the final three innings and lost their third straight postseason game. Nebraska will try to keep their baseball season alive on Saturday as they will take on the loser of the Clemson/Western Carolina game which takes place later tonight.
It’s possible the Huskers will need to try and stay alive without the benefit of Scott Schreiber once again. After his infield single, he was lifted for a pinch runner. While there hasn’t been any word on whether his injury flared up again, it seems interesting head coach Darin Erstad lifted his best hitter while knowing he would likely get one more at-bat in the game.
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Should the Nebraska baseball team lose on Saturday, it would conclude one of the most disappointing postseason showings under Erstad, especially considering the team came into the Big Ten Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the country.