After a three-hour and 20-minute rain delay on Friday, all before being postponed to 9:03 a.m. on Saturday, Nebraska baseball finally took on top-seeded Oregon in its first all-time meeting.
The Huskers played one of their best collective games of the season, trouncing the Ducks 7-3.
“At the front part of that game, we were on top of every 50-50 play — they went our way,” head coach Will Bolt said postgame. “And that’s why, a big part we won the game.”
Here are three takeaways from Nebraska’s season-extending victory:
Bats get to one of the nation’s best arms
Nebraska’s offense took down Oregon’s ace junior Grayson Grinsell (2.33 ERA) from the get-go. Entering Saturday, Grinsell had allowed a minimal .185 opposing batting average — making him one of the top pitchers in the nation.
Senior center fielder Riley Silva got the Huskers going with a leadoff single to center in the first frame. Senior left fielder Gabe Swansen came up to the plate and smacked a two-out 109 mph homer to left field, bringing Silva home to give Nebraska an early 2-0 lead — the first earned runs allowed by Grinsell in 18 innings.
“Silva set the tone with a big two-strike swing right back through the middle,” Bolt said. “Great approach up and down the lineup, really committed to what we were setting out to do.”
The Huskers kept the pressure on Grinsell in the second and fourth frames. Hogan Helligso came through in the second by nailing an RBI double to right field to extend Nebraska’s lead to three. Silva came through with an RBI single, making it a 4-1 Husker lead in the fourth.
Nebraska’s force at the plate didn’t let down in the fifth. Junior second baseman Cayden Brumbaugh and senior left fielder Gabe Swansen led the frame off with a single apiece. Both advanced on the basepaths due to a throwing error to first, setting up sophomore first baseman Case Sanderson with Huskers on second and third with none down.
Sanderson came through with a two-RBI single down the right field line, adding another two runs to make it 6-1, ending Grinsell’s worst performance on the season. Nebraska’s offensive production against one of the country’s top arms was incredible — Oregon’s ace had no answer to a Husker team in do-or-die mode.
Brockett shuts down the mighty Ducks’ offense
Left-hander Jackson Brockett (3.62 ERA) tossed six-plus outstanding frames. The senior pitcher started his outing by striking out junior slugger Mason Neville, the nation’s leader in home runs, leading to a one-two-three first frame.
“I just try not to make it a big thing,” Brockett said postgame. “He’s [Neville] a great hitter. Don’t give him too much credit though — just go after him like any other hitter.”
Brockett faced his first challenge from the bump in the bottom of the second inning. Oregon’s senior left fielder Anson Aroz hit a one-out double to right field, and sophomore shortstop Maddox Monoly brought Aroz home with an RBI single to put the Ducks on the scoreboard. Yet, the Omaha native showed his veteran poise, avoiding a crooked frame — he was unfazed in his hometown.
“It was a surreal moment,” Brockett said. “If this was my last game — if not — it’s great I get to be in my hometown and then pitch in front of all these fans.”
Traffic ensued during the third, yet Brockett went into control mode. He fanned Neville again and forced a one-six-three double play to retire the side, stranding Ducks on first and third. Brockett carried his confidence to the fourth, fifth and sixth frames, sitting Oregon down with nothing to boast. The Huskers’ fielding played a key role, forcing two double plays with Brockett on the mound.
“Defense was amazing, I mean, they’re always,” Brockett said. “We feel that at a really high level. Even if I give up something, they’re always going to have my back. And, they’re just great. I love those guys.”
Brockett posted his most impressive start of the season. He allowed only one earned run off six hits of the 24 Ducks faced against one of the best slugging teams in the country. Brockett’s performance speaks for itself — he was stellar.
“He [Brockett] was ready for the moment,” Bolt said. “He was built for that. Just being one of our steads head all year long, and the veteran that he is.”
This momentum makes Nebraska a scary foe
Senior left-hander Will Walsh took over for Brockett in the seventh and retired the side. And Nebraska recorded its third double play on the day to end its fifth consecutive scoreless frame. Walsh faced traffic in the eighth, yet stranded Oregon with the bases loaded.
The Ducks plated two off Walsh in the ninth, yet the margin was too tall to climb.
Nebraska’s only shot at a regional berth is by taking the Big Ten Tournament. The win-at-all-costs effort makes Nebraska dangerous heading into the semifinals.
“We’ve been battle-tested all year,” Brockett said. “We’ve gone through a lot of ups, a lot of downs — super proud of these guys. They always stay in the fight no matter what.”
Nebraska (30-27, 17-15) looks to ride this momentum into the evening when the Huskers take on No. 9 seed Penn State with a shot at the Big Ten Tournament title berth at 5 p.m.
“We’ll take a peek at Penn State and we’ll be ready to rock,” Bolt said.