Lincoln – The Nebraska baseball team (15-6, 1-0 Big Ten) opened Big Ten Conference play on Friday night at Hawks Field with a 14-3 win over the Michigan Wolverines (11-9, 0-1 Big Ten). The Huskers’ season-high 14 runs came on 13 hits and a season-high 13 walks, including 11 walks from NU’s first five batters.
Four Huskers produced a pair of his on the night, including Tanner Lubach, who reached base five times on two singles and three walks. Ryan Boldt also notched three walks and launched his first home run of the season in the third inning, a two-run opposite-field shot. Lubach and Boldt also each scored a team-high three runs.
The Huskers jumped on Michigan starter Brett Adcock in the first with five runs on four hits, as they sent 11 batters to the plate. Adcock retired Boldt to start the game, but then walked the bases loaded and Ben Miller drove in the game’s first run with a single. Adcock bounced back and got the second out of the inning on a fielder’s choice, but with the bases still loaded the Huskers delivered three-straight two-out singles from Austin Darby, Jake Meyers and Steven Reveles that drove in four more runs. Adcock then walked Boldt, his fourth walk of the inning, before getting Jake Placzek to end the inning with a fly out.
The sophomore lefty lasted a season-low 1.2 inning in the start, allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits and five walks.
With a 5-0 lead after the first inning, senior Chance Sinclair cruised to his third win of the season. The right hander improved to 7-0 in Big Ten starts and is now 2-0 against the Wolverines. Sinclair went 6.0 innings for the Huskers on 84 pitches, allowing one run on eight hits and no walks, while striking out four.
After the Huskers took a 14-1 lead following a three-run sixth inning, lefty relievers Nate Fisher, Miller and Max Knutson each worked an inning down the stretch.
The Huskers and Wolverines continue their series tomorrow at 2:05 p.m., with NU’s Kyle Kubat facing UM’s Ryan Nutof.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Brianna Butler scored 17 points, including the go-ahead basket with 58.7 seconds left, to lift eighth-seeded Syracuse to a 72-69 victory over Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.
The Huskers had a chance to tie it once more with 15.8 seconds left, but Emily Cady missed the second of two foul shots. Alexis Peterson followed with two free throws to extend the Syracuse lead to 70-67 and the Huskers turned the ball on their next possession with getting a shot off.
Peterson capped the victory for the Orange (22-9) with two more foul shots. She finished with a game-high 24 points.
Syracuse will take on top-seeded South Carolina, which earlier defeated Savannah State 81-48 to advance.
The Orange gave highly ranked South Carolina one of its toughest contests this season, losing 67-63 last November.
St. Louis, Mo. – Senior James Green (157) won a 12-4 major decision over 12th-seeded Mitchell Minotti of Lehigh during Session III of the NCAA Championships on Friday to advance to the semifinals.
With the win, Green became the second wrestler in Husker history to earn All-America honors on four occasions. He joins Bryan Snyder, who wrestled for NU from 1999 to 2002. Green won each of his first three matches of the tournament in bonus-point fashion and will battle top-seeded Isaiah Martinez of Illinois tonight.
No. 1 seed Robert Kokesh (174) suffered his first loss of the season as he fell to eighth-seeded Tyler Wilps of Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals, 3-2. Kokesh will wrestle for his third All-America honor in the consolation bracket during Session IV tonight.
No. 9 seed Anthony Abidin (141) lost to top-seeded Logan Stieber of Ohio State in the quarterfinals by a 16-1 technical fall. Abidin will also battle for a spot on the podium during tonight’s session. Additional Huskers remaining in contention in the wrestlebacks include Aaron Studebaker (197), TJ Dudley (184) and Eric Montoya (133).
Studebaker, the 15th seed at 197 pounds, pinned both of his opponents in Session III and will face No. 5 seed Scott Schiller of Minnesota tonight. Dudley, the No. 16 seed at 184 pounds, won a pair of major decisions and will grapple against 14th-seeded Matt McCutcheon of Penn State. Montoya knocked off No. 5 seed Zane Richards of Illinois and fourth-seeded Johnni DiJulius of Ohio State in Session III.
Collin Jensen (HWT), Tim Lambert (125) and Austin Wilson (165) also competed on Friday, but were each eliminated.
As a team, Nebraska is in sixth place with 36.5 points. Ohio State leads the team race with 64.5 points, while Iowa (47.5) and Missouri (45) round out the top three.
Session IV starts tonight at 7 p.m. (CT). The championship semifinals will be televised on ESPN and all matches will be streamed on ESPN3.
NCAA Championships March 19-21, 2015 Scottrade Center St. Louis, Mo.
125 pounds
First Round: #2 Nahshon Garrett (CORN) by dec. over Tim Lambert (NEB), 10-6
Consolation First Round: Tim Lambert (NEB) by major dec. over #15 Chasen Tolbert (UV), 9-1
Consolation Second Round: Conor Youtsey (MICH) by dec. over Tim Lambert (NEB), 10-7
133 pounds
First Round: #6 Earl Hall (ISU) by dec. over Eric Montoya (NEB), 7-4
Consolation First Round: Eric Montoya (NEB) by dec. over Zach Synon (MIZZ), 4-0
Consolation Second Round: Eric Montoya (NEB) by major dec. over #5 Zane Richards (ILL), 10-1
Consolation Third Round: Eric Montoya (NEB) by dec. over #4 Johnni DiJulius (OHST), 7-4
141 pounds
First Round: #9 Anthony Abidin (NEB) by major dec. over Nick Lawrence (PUR), 8-0
Second Round: #9 Anthony Abidin (NEB) by dec. over #8 Geo Martinez (BSU), 6-4
Quarterfinals: #1 Logan Stieber (OHST) by tech. fall over #9 Anthony Abidin (NEB), 16-1
157 pounds
First Round: #4 James Green (NEB) by major dec. over Markus Scheidel (COL), 13-4
Second Round: #4 James Green (NEB) by tech. fall over Noel Blanco (DREX), 20-5
Quarterfinals: #4 James Green (NEB) by major dec. over #12 Mitchell Minotti (LEH), 12-4
165 pounds
First Round: Austin Wilson (NEB) by dec. over #2 Michael Moreno (ISU), 7-5
Second Round: #15 Ethan Ramos (UNC) by dec. over Austin Wilson (NEB), 6-3
Consolation Second Round: #16 Harrison Hightower (OHIO) by sudden victory-1 over Austin Wilson (NEB), 5-3
174 pounds
First Round: #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by major dec. over Taylor Massa (MICH), 9-0
Second Round: #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by major dec. over Chad Welch (PUR), 11-0
Quarterfinals: #8 Tyler Wilps (PITT) by dec. over #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB), 3-2
184 pounds
First Round: #16 TJ Dudley (NEB) by major dec. over Ophir Bernstein (BRO), 9-0
Second Round: #1 Gabe Dean (CORN) by dec. over #16 TJ Dudley (NEB), 9-8
Consolation Second Round: #16 TJ Dudley (NEB) by major dec. over Brett Harner (PRIN), 9-0
Consolation Third Round: #16 TJ Dudley (NEB) by major dec. over #10 Lorenzo Thomas (PENN), 17-5
197 pounds
First Round: #15 Aaron Studebaker (NEB) by dec. over Jake Smith (WVU), 3-1
Second Round: #2 Morgan McIntosh (PSU) by major dec. over #15 Aaron Studebaker (NEB), 14-5
Consolation Second Round: #15 Aaron Studebaker (NEB) by pin over Scottie Boykin (CHAT), 3:40
Consolation Third Round: #15 Aaron Studebaker (NEB) by pin over #9 Jace Bennett (CORN), 6:12
Heavyweight
First Round: #6 Adam Coon (MICH) by pin over Collin Jensen (NEB), 4:29
Consolation First Round: Collin Jensen (NEB) by dec. over Nathan Butler (STAN), 5-3
Consolation Second Round: Collin Jensen (NEB) by dec. over #12 Denzel Dejournette (APST), 3-1
Consolation Third Round: #3 Bobby Telford (IOWA) by dec. over Collin Jensen (NEB), 9-2
St. Louis, Mo. – Robert Kokesh (174), James Green (157) and Anthony Abidin (141) each advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships during Session II of the tournament on Thursday night.
Kokesh, the top seed at 174 pounds, picked up his second major decision of the day with his 11-0 triumph over Purdue’s Chad Welch. Kokesh outscored his two opponents 20-0 on Thursday and will face eighth-seeded Tyler Wilps of Pittsburgh in Friday morning’s quarterfinals.
Green, a three-time All-American, also notched a pair of bonus-point wins at 157 pounds on Thursday. He won a 20-5 technical fall over Drexel’s Noel Blanco after his major decision in the first session. Green will battle No. 12 seed Mitchell Minotti of Lehigh in Session III.
Abidin, the No. 9 seed at 141 pounds, topped eighth-seeded Geo Martinez of Boise State in the second round by a 6-4 decision. Abidin is set to grapple against top-seeded Logan Stieber of Ohio State on Friday morning.
Austin Wilson (165), TJ Dudley (184) and Aaron Studebaker (197) each won in Session I, but fell in the second round to seeded opponents. Dudley fell by a narrow decision to top-seeded Gabe Dean of Cornell, Studebaker lost to No. 2 seed Morgan McIntosh of Penn State, 14-5, and Wilson fell to 15th-seeded Ethan Ramos of North Carolina, 6-3. All three Huskers will wrestle in the consolation bracket in Session III on Friday.
Tim Lambert (125), Eric Montoya (133) and Collin Jensen (HWT) each rebounded from a first-round loss with a win in the consolation bracket.
Nebraska is tied for fifth as a team with 18 points. Ohio State leads the team race with 23 points, while Iowa (21) and Oklahoma State (19.5) round out the top three.
Friday’s action begins with Session III at 10 a.m. (CT) on ESPNU and ESPN3. Session IV, also set for Friday, starts at 7 p.m. The championship semifinals will be broadcasted on ESPN and all matches will be streamed on ESPN3.
NCAA Championships March 19-21, 2015 Scottrade Center St. Louis, Mo.
125 pounds
First Round: #2 Nahshon Garrett (CORN) by dec. over Tim Lambert (NEB), 10-6
Consolation First Round: Tim Lambert (NEB) by major dec. over #15 Chasen Tolbert (UV), 9-1
133 pounds
First Round: #6 Earl Hall (ISU) by dec. over Eric Montoya (NEB), 7-4
Consolation First Round: Eric Montoya (NEB) by dec. over Zach Synon (MIZZ), 4-0
141 pounds
First Round: #9 Anthony Abidin (NEB) by major dec. over Nick Lawrence (PUR), 8-0
Second Round: #9 Anthony Abidin (NEB) by dec. over #8 Geo Martinez (BSU), 6-4
157 pounds
First Round: #4 James Green (NEB) by major dec. over Markus Scheidel (COL), 13-4
Second Round: #4 James Green (NEB) by tech. fall over Noel Blanco (DREX), 20-5
165 pounds
First Round: Austin Wilson (NEB) by dec. over #2 Michael Moreno (ISU), 7-5
Second Round: #15 Ethan Ramos (UNC) by dec. over Austin Wilson (NEB), 6-3
174 pounds
First Round: #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by major dec. over Taylor Massa (MICH), 9-0
Second Round: #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by major dec. over Chad Welch (PUR), 11-0
184 pounds
First Round: #16 TJ Dudley (NEB) by major dec. over Ophir Bernstein (BRO), 9-0
Second Round: #1 Gabe Dean (CORN) by dec. over #16 TJ Dudley (NEB), 9-8
197 pounds
First Round: #15 Aaron Studebaker (NEB) by dec. over Jake Smith (WVU), 3-1
Second Round: #2 Morgan McIntosh (PSU) by major dec. over #15 Aaron Studebaker (NEB), 14-5
Heavyweight
First Round: #6 Adam Coon (MICH) by pin over Collin Jensen (NEB), 4:29
Consolation First Round: Collin Jensen (NEB) by dec. over Nathan Butler (STAN), 5-3
Columbia, S.C. – Nebraska Coach Connie Yori and the Huskers met the media and held their first practice at Colonial Life Arena on Thursday in preparation for Friday’s game against Syracuse in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.
The ninth-seeded Huskers (21-10, 10-8 Big Ten) will battle eighth-seeded Syracuse (21-9, 11-5 ACC) in Friday’s first round at approximately 6:30 p.m. (central).
The game between Nebraska and the Orange will follow Friday’s first game between No. 1 seed South Carolina (30-2, 15-1 SEC) and 16th-seeded Savannah State (21-10, 13-3 MEAC), which will tip at 4:05 p.m. (central). Both games will be televised live by ESPN2.
Yori addressed members of the media in the official NCAA Press Conference at Colonial Life Arena on Thursday afternoon, prior to Nebraska’s practice. She was joined by Nebraska senior forwards Emily Cady and Hailie Sample, who both will be playing in the 132nd games of their Husker careers. For Cady, it will be her school-record-tying 132nd consecutive start.
Cady said the Huskers were proud to be competing in their fourth straight NCAA Tournament.
“We take a lot of pride in it. We’ve worked really hard to get to the point that we’re at,” Cady said. “It’s humbling and we’re really, really proud of it.”
Sample said the Big Red, who advanced to the 2013 NCAA Sweet 16 and 2014 NCAA Second Round, were thrilled with another postseason opportunity.
“I think we’re just excited in general,” Sample said. “We’re thinking about the game at hand.”
Yori said the Huskers were thrilled to be in South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament.
“I’m just glad we’re here. I’m just happy to be in the NCAA Tournament, and I think we all feel that way,” Yori said. “The first game is going to be incredibly difficult because I think the two teams are very evenly matched.”
St. Louis, Mo. – Junior Austin Wilson (165) knocked off No. 2 seed Michael Moreno of Iowa State and five other Huskers posted wins in Session I of the NCAA Championships at the Scottrade Center on Thursday.
Wilson, making his third NCAA Championships appearance, raced out to an early 5-0 advantage over Moreno after scoring near fall points in the first period. He notched a 7-5 decision over the Cyclone to pick up his 17th win of the season.
Top-seeded Robert Kokesh (174) opened his tournament with a 9-0 major decision over Michigan’s Taylor Massa to improve to 34-0 this season. Kokesh, a two-time All-American, will face Purdue’s Chad Welch in the second round tonight.
Three-time All-American James Green (157) also picked up bonus points along with No. 9 seed Anthony Abidin (141) and 16th-seeded TJ Dudley (184). Abidin and Dudley each shut out their opponents for major decisions. Green notched a 13-4 major decision over Markus Scheidel of Columbia.
Sophomore Aaron Studebaker posted a 3-1 decision over West Virginia’s Jake Smith at 197 pounds. Tim Lambert (125), Eric Montoya (133) and Collin Jensen (HWT) also wrestled for the Huskers, but each of them fell to top-10 opponents in the opening round.
As a team, Nebraska is tied for fifth with 10 points after the first session. Ohio State leads the team competition with 13.5 points, while Penn State is second with 11.5 points.
Session II starts tonight at 6 p.m. (CT). ESPNU will televise the championship bracket matches and ESPN3 will stream all bouts.
NCAA Championships March 19-21, 2015 Scottrade Center St. Louis, Mo.
125 pounds
First Round: #2 Nahshon Garrett (CORN) by dec. over Tim Lambert (NEB), 10-6
133 pounds
First Round: #6 Earl Hall (ISU) by dec. over Eric Montoya (NEB), 7-4
141 pounds
First Round: #9 Anthony Abidin (NEB) by major dec. over Nick Lawrence (PUR), 8-0
157 pounds
First Round: #4 James Green (NEB) by major dec. over Markus Scheidel (COL), 13-4
165 pounds
First Round: Austin Wilson (NEB) by dec. over #2 Michael Moreno (ISU), 7-5
174 pounds
First Round: #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by major dec. over Taylor Massa (MICH), 9-0
184 pounds
First Round: #16 TJ Dudley (NEB) by major dec. over Ophir Bernstein (BRO), 9-0
197 pounds
First Round: #15 Aaron Studebaker (NEB) by dec. over Jake Smith (WVU), 3-1
Heavyweight
First Round: #6 Adam Coon (MICH) by pin over Collin Jensen (NEB), 4:29
After playing 20 non-conference games to start the season, the Nebraska baseball team (14-6, 0-0 Big Ten) is set to open Big Ten Conference play this weekend when they host the Michigan Wolverines (11-8, 0-0 Big Ten) for a three-game series at Hawks Field.
Friday’s series opener is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., Saturday’s game is set for 2:05 p.m. and the series concludes on Sunday at 11:05 a.m.
The Huskers and Wolverines have played 15 games all-time and the Huskers hold a 8-7 advantage in the series. 11 of the 15 games have come since 2012 when the Huskers joined the Big Ten Conference, and during that time frame the Huskers are 7-4 against the Wolverines, including a 2-0 record at the Big Ten Tournament.
This weekend’s match comes right in the middle of Nebraska’s 16-game home stand and the Huskers enter Friday a perfect 7-0 at Hawks Field this year. The Wolverines have played all 19 of their games away from Ann Arbor, as they won’t play their first home game until Tuesday, March 24, against Bowling Green. The Wolverines are 4-4 in true road games this year, with 11 of their 19 games played at neutral sites.
Senior Chance Sinclair is scheduled to start for the Huskers on Friday night and he will face sophomore lefty Brett Adcock. Last season, Sinclair pitched the second game of NU series at Michigan and gave up just one unearned run over 7.1 innings in a 3-1 win. Adcock saw 1.0 inning of relief in the series finale, giving up two runs on two hits, while striking out two.
Senior Kyle Kubat is set to start on Sunday and will look to improve to 4-0 all-time against the Wolverines. The 6-1 Kubat started each of Nebraska’s two wins over Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament, including a career-high 8.2 inning outing last season in Omaha. Michigan is set to counter with freshman right hander Ryan Nutof. A native of South Elgin, Ill., Nutof is 1-1 on the year in five starts with a 2.67 ERA over 27.0 innings of work. Nutof has given up 15 hits and walked 15, while striking out 19.
Sophomore Derek Burkamper will start on Sunday for the Huskers, it will be his sixth career start and his first during league play. Burkamper has gone at least 6.0 innings in each of his last three starts and will be looking for his second straight win. The Wolverines have yet to announce a starter for Sunday.
Friday, March 21 (6:35 p.m.)
Probable Starters: RHP Sinclair (2-3) vs. LHP Adcock (2-2)
TV: None
Audio Stream: Huskers.com | Video Stream: HuskersNSide
Radio: Husker Sports Network
Wednesday, March 22 (2:05 p.m.)
Probable Starters: LHP Kubat (3-0) vs. RHP Nutof (1-1)
TV: None
Audio Stream: Huskers.com | Video Stream: HuskersNSide
Radio: Husker Sports Network
Sunday, March 23 (11:05 a.m.)
Probable Starters: RHP Burkamper (2-1) vs. TBA
TV: None
Audio Stream: Huskers.com | Video Stream: HuskersNSide
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — New Nebraska coach Mike Riley says he has a hunch the entirety of his pro-style offense won’t be game-ready come fall.
Riley said Wednesday that he and his staff will spend next week’s spring break studying practice video and paring back the number of plays they’ll work on the rest of the spring practice.
He said he wants to head into the fall with his offense “pretty good at a few things and not average at a whole bunch of stuff.”
Riley said the quarterbacks need to complete a higher percentage and cut down on interceptions.
Presumptive starter Tommy Armstrong Jr. stood on the sideline for Wednesday’s practice because of tightness and spasms in his lower back.
Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team completed its seventh practice of the 2015 spring football season on Wednesday afternoon. The Huskers practices for just over two hours outside on the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice fields in full pads.
Nebraska Head Coach Mike Riley spoke with media members following practice, as he mentioned that the Husker quarterback corps has been doing really well learning all of the new commands in Riley’s offense.
“I think the quarterbacks have done a nice job of having a lot to learn and making some plays. I guess it’s remarkably like practice for me, some of it looks good, some of it doesn’t,” he said. “You go back and look at the film, but you know what, for the most part considering learning a new language—even the stuff as simple as a new cadence—I think they have done ok.”
Riley added that the Husker quarterbacks need to cut down on some of their interceptions before the annual Red-White Spring Game. Riley mentioned that location of the football and making good choices with the football are the keys to cut down on the interceptions and make good quarterbacks.
During practice Wednesday, things got a little chippy during the scrimmage portion of the Husker practice. Riley loved the team’s intensity during practice, but said that the team needs to be smart, as some of their actions can result in personal foul penalties.
“I like the spirit, but I think that you have to practice self-control because that is a penalty plus you get kicked out,” Riley said. “You are just practicing something that is bad for your team, so we don’t have that.”
Junior quarterback Tommy Armstrong sat out practice Wednesday. According to Riley, Armstrong has been battling a minor back injury that should not keep him off the field for long.
“He has had some lower back (spasms) so he has had a hard time, he has struggled through a couple of practices with it, so we just decided to keep him out today,” Riley said.
Overall, Riley said he is pretty impressed with the Huskers spring practice season so far, noting the team still has a long way to go, as the evaluation process continues.
“I think that it is interesting, I am impressed with a lot of the volume that we have in, I am not yet impressed with how we execute it all yet. I think we are going to now have to be very selective on the rest of spring and what we do for fall camp.”
Nebraska returns to the practice field on Friday for its eighth workout of the spring. Check back at Huskers.com for updates.
Lincoln – The Nebraska baseball (14-6, 0-0 Big Ten) team hung on to a one-run lead for the second straight day, as they completed a two-game sweep of the Indiana State Sycamores (8-9, 0-0 MVC) on Wednesday afternoon with a 3-2 victory. The Huskers are now 7-0 at Hawks Field and continue their 16-game homestand on Friday at 6:35 p.m.when they open Big Ten play with a three-game series against the Michigan Wolverines.
Hits and base runners were at a premium on Wednesday, with the two teams combining for 15 hits. Junior catcher Taylor Fish led all players with three hits, his second career three-hit game. Both pitching staff pounded the zone, as each team issued just one walk. Three Husker freshmen combined for 10 strikeouts on the afternoon, including five from starter Zack Engelken, who went 4.1 innings. Jake Meyers earned the win in 2.2 innings of relief, while Nate Fisher tossed a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts.
Senior Josh Roeder shut the door for the second straight day to notch his seventh save of the season. Roeder is now seven saves away from breaking Brett Jensen’s NU career saves record of 31.
The Huskers scored all three of their runs in the fourth inning, capped by a two-run homer from Austin Darby that landed in the visitor’s bullpen beyond the right-field wall. It was Darby’s first home run of the season and snapped an 0-for-9 slump for the senior right fielder. Scott Schreiber got the Huskers on the board earlier in the inning he delivered a deep fly ball to left field that scored Blake Headley, who led off the inning with his seventh double of the year.
The Sycamores broke in the scoring column in the fifth when Manual Estevez led off the inning with a home run. Two batters later, Meyers took over for Engelken with the tying run at the plate and promptly got a pair of outs to keep the Huskers in front 3-1.
Tyler Friis led off the eighth with a double for the Sycamores, and the Huskers turned the ball to Fisher, who gave up a RBI single to Landon Curry. Fisher then retired three straight batters, including back-to-back strikeouts to end the eighth. Roeder took the mound in the ninth and sat down Indiana State’s 6-7-8 hitters in order to complete the two-game sweep.
Following Friday’s series opener, the Huskers and Wolverines will meet at 2:05 p.m.on Saturday before wrapping up the series at 11:05 a.m.on Sunday.
Lincoln – The Nebraska baseball team (15-6, 1-0 Big Ten) opened Big Ten Conference play on Friday night at Hawks Field with a 14-3 win over the Michigan Wolverines (11-9, 0-1 Big Ten). The Huskers’ season-high 14 runs came on 13 hits and a season-high 13 walks, including 11 walks from NU’s first five batters.
