Nebraska Baseball Gamethread: Michigan State Game 1

After six days without a contest, Nebraska travels to East Lansing to face the Michigan State Spartans in a key Big Ten conference series. Nebraska is a game behind the Spartans in the standings, and could move into the top half of the conference standings with a series win.

Nebraska will catch a break in the series opener as Cam Vieaux has been ruled out of the series due to a shoulder injury. Vieaux is the Michigan State ace, and leads the Spartans with a 1.69 ERA. Instead of Vieaux, Nebraska will see Ethan Landon is the series opener. Landon, a former Kansas State Wildcat has a 2.45 ERA and has limited opponents to a .247 batting average against.

Behind Landon, Michigan State has a quality bullpen. Dakota Meekes is the biggest Spartan weapon, as he has 74 strikeouts in just 40.2 innings pitched. Meekes will serve as the closer this weekend as main closer Joe Mockbee has entered the rotation and will start Saturday.

For Nebraska, Derek Burkamper gets the nod for another Friday night start. Burkamper was solid last week against Rutgers. Burkamper has only thrown 47.1 innings, and has a 3.04 ERA, good for second among starting pitchers on the team, trailing Jake Meyers 1.17 ERA.

Burkamper will have to deal with an aggressive Michigan State offense. The Spartans are led by Jordan Zimmerman, a .391 hitter who has 25 walks, and 10 stolen bases. Zimmerman gets plenty of help as three other Michigan State regulars bat over .300. Michigan State has 112 extra base hits, good enough for a .412 slugging percentage.

Probable Starters: RHP Burkamper (4-1) vs. RHP Landon (6-1)
TV: None
Audio Stream: Huskers.com | Video Stream: MSUSpartans.com
Radio: Husker Sports Network