70 years. That's how long it's been since the Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team managed an individual nine-inning no hitter. 1954 was the last time a member of the Huskers accomplished it.
That's only part of what made Wednesday's performance by Jackson Brockett phenomenal, shocking, outstanding and stunning. How's this for a factoid. Entering Wednesday, Brockett had pitched a total of 5.1 innings this season. In six appearances. He previously posted an earned run average over eight.
He'd allowed more runs (five) than he had strikeouts (three.) And then, against Kansas State, Brockett went nine innings, lowered his season earned run average to 2.50 and had 12 strikeouts to obviously zero runs scored.
The 8-0 win wasn't over a bad Kansas State team either. They entered the night at 26-17 and had an RPI of 32. That's quite a bit better than Creighton, the team the Nebraska Cornhuskers were just swept in the season series against on Tuesday night. The Jays are just 50th in RPI.
That's a Nebraska no-hitter. 🚫
— Big Ten Baseball (@B1Gbaseball) May 2, 2024
Jackson Brockett fired @HuskerBaseball's first no-no since 1954.
Relive all 2️⃣7️⃣ outs. 👇 #B1GBaseball x @JaxBrockett13 pic.twitter.com/2ikWVKJVwD
In other words, there was no way to see this game coming. It was also exactly what the Huskers needed. It was a mid-week win. It was domination. And it was a shot in the arm that will hopefully resonate in a way that a regular 8-0 win would not.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/objLobBK9e
— Nebraska Baseball (@HuskerBaseball) May 2, 2024
As the Cornhuskers season speeds towards the final weeks, Jackson Brockett and an offense that looked plenty good too, might have handed Will Bolt's team a turning point.
More Nebraska Cornhuskers news
Tough to hear Nebraska volleyball freshman Olivia Mauch's family home was hit by a tornado in Bennington. She says volleyball and the #Huskers have been a big escape this week.
— Lauren Michelson (@LaurenMichelson) May 2, 2024
"When I step on the volleyball court I can just forget..." @KETV pic.twitter.com/unNBwNV7Vc
While most of the state has moved on from last week's tornadoes, there are hundreds of people in the Omaha area who can't just move on because their homes are either gone or severely damaged. It turns out at least one of those people is a member of the Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball team. Olivia Mauch's family lives in Bennington and had her home hit. She talked this week about how sports is allowing her to focus on something else.
Thank You🖤 pic.twitter.com/zls2EGpvOo
— C H I E F💯💪🏾 (@ChiefBorders) May 1, 2024
Chief Borders entered the transfer portal this week, just before it closed. On Wednesday night, he posted a goodbye to Nebraska fans, coaches and former teammates.
B1G matchups locked in. pic.twitter.com/sAeUEZHiiS
— Nebraska Men's Basketball (@HuskerMBB) May 1, 2024
The Nebraska basketball team got its Big Ten schedule for the upcoming season on Wednesday. Among the most noteworthy matchups are home faceoffs against UCLA and USC. They're also traveling to Oregon and Washington among others.
Just your latest reminder that the Nebraska Cornhuskers are in a whole other world next fall with the addition of four former Pac-12 squads.