It’s win now or head home — the best time of the year for college baseball.
Nebraska baseball (28-27, 15-15) locked up the No. 8 seed for the Big Ten Tournament by taking two of three at Purdue to close out the regular season. The Huskers take on No. 12 seed Michigan State (28-25, 13-17) on Tuesday and No. 1 seed Oregon (41-13, 22-8) on Friday — each starting at 6 p.m. CT in Omaha.
The new Big Ten Tournament format can be confusing. Four three-team pods play a round-robin. What happens if each team goes 1-1 in its pod? The highest seed advances.
Therefore, if Nebraska loses on Tuesday and Oregon beats Michigan State on Thursday night, the Ducks will automatically qualify for the semifinal round. That makes it paramount for the Huskers not to overlook the Spartans.
Here’s a preview of what Nebraska faces:
Michigan State
The No. 12 seed Spartans enter with a .267 team batting average compared to the Huskers’ .277. Michigan State is led at the plate by infielder Ryan McKay, who has 65 hits for a .322 average on the season. McKay doesn’t hit the deep ball often, with only five homers, but he’s a tough out.
The top power threat for Nebraska’s right-hander Ty Horn (2-4, 5.66 ERA) is infielder Sam Busch. The senior slugger smacked 15 homers and 60 RBIs over 62 regular-season contests. Avoiding McKay on the basepaths and keeping Busch’s power in check will be critical.
The Spartans carry an overall 5.37 ERA on the mound, but have a true ace. Left-hander Joseph Dzierwa (8-3, 2.31 ERA) has been exceptional this season and will start against the Huskers. He’ll be one of the toughest arms Nebraska has faced.
Oregon
The No. 1 seed Ducks had quite a first season in the Big Ten. Oregon boasts a .294 team batting average, with six players hitting above .300. Outfielder Mason Neville leads the way with 26 homers and 56 RBIs.
The Ducks’ offensive depth doesn’t stop there. First baseman Jacob Walsh carries a .344 batting average, 19 homers and 59 RBIs. Maddox Melony and Dominic Hellman add another 27 home runs combined.
The challenge for the Huskers’ pitching staff on the mound speaks for itself. Oregon’s pitching is nearly as stellar, carrying a 4.00 team ERA.
The Huskers have proven they can take down the elite programs this season. Nebraska beat Vanderbilt early in the season and took two of three over Oregon State. A Big Ten Tournament run for the Big Red isn’t out of the question.
Schneider is a sports journalist who covers Nebraska baseball and football. Follow him on X @bschneider33 for more coverage.