Nebraska Cornhuskers can't handle Florida power in regional opener

This was not the start the Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team was hoping for in the Stillwater regionals. Of course, considering how the Florida Gators have won games all year, it wasn’t exactly a surprise.

The Huskers handed the ball to staff ace Brett Sears on Friday afternoon, hoping he could continue the dominance he showed off while winning Big 10 pitcher of the year. Unfortunately, it took exactly one batter to demonstrate that Sears didn’t have his best stuff. Florida opened the game with a leadoff homer by Cade Kurland. When the smoke cleared, UF had 3 homers and a 5-2 victory.

Sears struggled with hard contact all afternoon in a game that felt like it could have been 10-1 by the time he made his exit. On the day he allowed a season high 10 hits. 5 of those hits went for extra bases with 4 doubles and that Kurland homer.

Sears was relieved after five innings by Drew Christo, who went the rest of the way. He also managed to limit the damage a bit, but even the outs sounded like they were being scorched. Christo allowed the Gators second homer of the day. To add insult to injury, it was likely the dagger in the heart of the Nebraska Cornhuskers chances as it came in the top of the 9th inning to a batter in Ashton Wilson who hadn’t hit a home run all season. 

Wilson was an especially annoying thorn in the Huskers’ side as he had four extra base hits on the day. Three doubles and that put-away homer.

Nebraska Cornhuskers offense can’t match Florida

While Sears and Christo weren’t perfect, they limited the damage more than they should have. However, the Nebraska offense was largely non-existent. 

A Gabe Swansen double in the bottom of the inning tied the game at 1-1, but NU went scoreless after that until Swansen struck again, hitting a solo homer that made the score 3-2. 

Nebraska had it’s chances late in the game. They loaded the bases with one out in the 8th, down 4-2. A hard hit lineout and then a 3-pitch strikeout ended that chance.

In the 9th inning, the Huskers had a runner on with one out, but Josh Overbeek grounded into a double play.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers will now fight for their postseason lives on Saturday against the lose of Niagara vs Oklahoma State.