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Nebraska Baseball Vs Creighton Gamethread

Two of the hottest teams in baseball meet tonight in Lincoln

By Keith Yaple

After playing five straight contests away from Haymarket Park, the Nebraska Baseball team returns home Tuesday night to start a four-game home stand. To start the home stand, the Creighton Bluejays make the trek down I-80, to play their instate rivals. Nebraska will start Max Knutson, while Creighton will throw Connor Miller. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35, with a live television broadcast on BTN!

While Miller gets the start for the Jays, look for Creighton to use upwards of ten pitchers. Miller has had starts of 3.1 innings, and 1.0 innings, both coming against the Kansas State Wildcats. Miller did pitch 4.2 innings of scoreless relief against Nebraska on April 14th last season.

While Miller can throw, Creighton does not scare one offensively. They have hit two home runs all season, partially due to playing in TD Ameritrade Park. Nicky Lopez and Daniel Woodrow are two players to watch. Woodrow has 15 stolen bases for the Jays while Lopez gets on base at a .460 clip.

Creighton also plays great defense. Creighton has 12 errors all season. While Creighton only has 12 errors, Nebraska had six alone last weekend at Purdue. Nebraska will look to play a clean game and stretch their win streak to eight games.

To win, Nebraska will need to throw strikes. Knutson this season has struggled, as evidence by his thirteen walks in just thirteen innings. Knutson needs to gain confidence and attack Creighton hitters. If Knutson struggles early, look for Garrett King to get some work in, with possibly Zack Engelken and Colton Howell also throwing for the Huskers.

Offensively, the Huskers may struggle to get the ball out of the park tonight as the Jays have only allowed three home runs all season. Their is also expected to be a stiff wind blowing in from right field during the game.

Nebraska and Creighton are in the top five of win streaks in the nation. Nebraska is tied for fourth longest win streak in the nation with seven straight wins, while Creighton's 10 wins are the second longest streak in the nation.

Still, neither team is generating much buzz as Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball.com had a few comments on Nebraska and the Big Ten.

There’s still a long way to go, but the Huskers are at least putting themselves in the discussion as the Big Ten play continues. BTW, big game coming up with Creighton, which also has a rather respectable RPI around 50. Not surprised the Huskers have turned things on, especially with their schedule the past few weeks"

Fellow D1Baseball.com writer Aaron Fitt had a few comments on the Big Ten as well, including Nebraska

I think the Huskers are a borderline regional team. I don’t see the Big Ten getting more than three teams this year, and maybe just two. The Huskers are right there in the mix with Michigan and Michigan State — I’d put that trio a little ahead of everybody else right now. Your assessment lines up with my feeling on Nebraska — really like the offense, not sold on the pitching, but it should be good enough to keep them in the race.

For what it is worth, Creighton will make the NCAA Tournament barring a total collapse because baseball in the Big East is terrible.

Tuesday, March 29 (6:32 p.m.)
Probable Starters: LHP Knutson (0-0) vs. RHP Miller (0-0)
TV: BTN
Audio Stream: Huskers.com | Video Stream: BTN2Go
Radio: Husker Sports Network

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