Previewing The Frisco College Baseball Classic

The Nebraska baseball team (3-5) travels to Frisco, Texas to play in the Frisco College Baseball Classic this weekend. The Huskers face No. 3 Texas Tech, Sam Houston State and No. 12 Mississippi State at Dr. Pepper Ballpark.

Texas Tech, Sam Houston State, and Mississippi State, all regional qualifiers from the 2018 season. The Red Raiders and Bulldogs both made the College World Series last year.

The Huskers start off the weekend with a familiar foe in the Red Raiders. Nebraska and Texas Tech last met as members of the Big 12 in 2011. Nebraska leads the all time series with Texas Tech 31-21.

Tech is known for a powerful offense, as they swept Kentucky last weekend. Tech also took a series from Oregon to begin the year. Seven members of the Red Raiders are batting over .300 on the season. Dylan Neuse has six extra base hits, while both Josh Jung and Gabe Holt are preseason All-Americans.

Sam Houston State and Nebraska will play Saturday afternoon. The Huskers and Bearkats meet for the first time since 2011, when Sam Houston State defeated the Huskers. SHSU is coming off a midweek loss to Texas, and a cancellation of the game against Texas Christian due to fog.

The Bearkats can swing the bat as they already have nine home runs in their first seven contests. Clayton Harp and Hunter Hern each have three home runs to lead the Bearkats, Gavin Johnson leads SHSU with a .409 batting average.

The Bulldogs of Mississippi pounded Southeastern Louisiana 12-0 in a midweek game on Wednesday. Pitching is where the Bulldogs excel. The starting staff in two weekends for Mississippi has allowed just five runs in 32.0 innings, while striking out 50 batters.

On offense for the Bulldogs, preseason All-American Jake Mangum is hitting .324. Tanner Allen and Justin Foscue each have slugging percentages over .600. Foscue leads the team in home runs with three, while Allen has six extra base hits early in the season.

Nebraska will head to Texas with a tough weekend ahead. The Huskers are challenging themselves early in the season and have only set part of their rotation for the weekend.

Matt Waldron will get ball for the Huskers on Friday against the Red Raiders. Waldron has been the most consistent pitcher that the Huskers have seen in the first two weekends.

Nate Fisher gets his second start of the season on Saturday, while Sunday is a yet to be announced starter. Nebraska has not got a quality start all season, and will look to change that soon.

Overall, don’t be surprised if Nebraska struggles against highly ranked teams this weekend Texas Tech and Mississippi State. Both the Red Raiders and Bulldogs are College World Series caliber teams, and this will be the weekend that shows how far Nebraska has to go.

Frisco College Baseball Classic

March 1-3, 2019

Dr. Pepper Ballpark • Frisco, Texas

Friday, March 1 • 7 p.m. (CT)

#3 Texas Tech (Away) vs. Nebraska (Home)

Video Stream: FloLive TV

Radio: Husker Sports Network

Matt Waldron (1-0) vs. TBA

Saturday, March 2 • 12 p.m. (CT)

Nebraska (Away) vs. Sam Houston State (Home)

Video Stream: FloLive TV

Radio: Husker Sports Network

Nate Fisher (1-1) vs. TBA

Sunday, March 3 • 11 a.m. (CT)

Nebraska (Away) vs. #12 Mississippi State (Home)

Video Stream: FloLive TV

Radio: Husker Sports Network

TBA vs. TBA