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2016 NCAA Baseball Tournament: Nebraska vs. Oklahoma State Gamethread

Scott Schreiber returns to lineup after missing final four games

By Keith Yaple

After just squeaking in to the field of 64, the Nebraska Baseball team will look to make some noise Friday afternoon as they take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the first game of the Clemson regional. The Huskers will have Scott Schreiber back in the lineup, and will send Matt Waldron to the mound, where he will face All American Thomas Hatch of the Cowboys.

Waldron will get his first "Friday" start of his career, replacing Derek Burkamper who was the previous Friday night starter.  Waldron, who allowed two unearned runs in the Big Ten Tournament, has not allowed an earned run since Nebraska played at Michigan State on Sunday May 8th. Over the course of that stretch, Waldron is 2-0 while tossing 23 innings without allowing an earned run.

Waldron will be facing an Oklahoma State team who is not deep offensively. Donnie Walton and J.R. Davis are two big bats at the top of the Cowboys's lineup, but no other full time player bats over .300. First baseman Dustin Williams has 14 home runs to lead the Cowboys. A third of Williams 42 hits have left the park.

One thing to note about the Oklahoma State offense is that they strike out a lot. The Cowboys are led by Junior catcher Collin Theroux who has 81 strikeouts. As a team they have 465 strikeouts, which is 116 more than the Huskers hitters have. While the Cowboys do strikeout a ton, their pitching has struck out 501 batters.

Leading the strikeout parade is Hatch, who will get his 16th start of the season when he takes the mound against the Huskers. Hatch who is 6-2 has thrown three complete games this season. Recently Hatch has gotten a but more vulnerable, giving up seven runs to Oklahoma, and four to TCU. Hatch has lost his dominance from his mid season form where he threw three straight complete games.

Behind Hatch, the Oklahoma State bullpen is uninspiring. Carson Teel is the only reliever with an ERA below three. Blake Battenfield and Tyler Buffet are two of the back end pieces for the Cowboys, as Buffet has recorded nine saves on the season. Battenfield is the only Oklahoma State pitcher out of the bullpen who does not record more than a strikeout per inning pitched.

The Huskers and Cowboys will be the only game televised in it's entirety on ESPNU tomorrow, as after the game ESPN will have whip around coverage, including the nightcap of Clemson and Western Carolina.

Friday, June 3 - 11 a.m. (CT)
Probable Starters: RHP Waldron (7-2) vs. RHP Hatch (6-2)
TV: ESPNU
Audio Stream: Huskers.com | Video Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Husker Sports Network

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