It is good to be back home! Nebraska opens up the home slate of their 2020 schedule with the Columbia Lions (0-4, 0-0 Ivy League) visiting Hawks Field at Haymarket Park for the first time in history. Nebraska and Columbia are scheduled for a four game series with Saturday being a doubleheader between the two teams.
Nebraska comes back to Lincoln just 2-7 and sporting an ugly 8.61 team ERA. The good news for the Huskers is that the offense got on track last weekend on Sunday and the competition level should be more manageable. Columbia was swept last weekend in their season opening series by Fresno State out of the Mountain West.
Columbia last season finished 19-23 and was one series away from advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Columbia like Nebraska, loses their three weekend starters from last season. Just like Nebraska has struggled to replace their weekend starters, Columbia did not fare well in their opening weekend.
Columbia starting pitching last weekend gave up 11 runs in just 6.0 innings between all three starters combined. This is a team that is trying to find out who they are on the mound.
Jacob Phelps and Phil Healy each had scoreless outings last week for the Columbia bullpen. Will West had eight punchouts in his 4.0 innings of work last week to highlight the Lions pitching.
Bats to watch for Columbia include Julian Bury and Josh Nicoloff. Bury and Nicoloff each had eight hits for the Lions on opening weekend. Bury is a speedy center fielder who will set the table for the Lions. Nicoloff is an infielder who had eight hits last weekend against Fresno.
Freshman to watch include Andy Blake and Weston Eberly. Blake is a big bodied 6-foot-4 infielder who has power potential. Eberly got three starts last weekend for the Lions as their primary catcher.
Looking back at Nebraska, this is a series for the Huskers to get on track. Columbia struggled on the mound last weekend, walking 25 and only striking out 23. Fresno State is a solid club, but Nebraska at home should be too much for the Lions. Nebraska could use a sweep to propel some confidence back into the bullpen and the pitching staff as a whole.
Leighton Banjoff and Aaron Palensky should have a field day at Hawks Field. With the wind expecting to be blowing out all weekend, Nebraska may just reach double digit home runs for the series.
It is expected to be a beautiful weekend for baseball. Come out and support the Huskers as they look to climb back to .500 on this homestand.
Columbia (0-4) at Nebraska (2-7)
March 6-8, 2020
Hawks Field at Haymarket Park • Lincoln, Neb.
Friday, March 6 • 1:35 p.m. (CT)
Online Stream: BTN+
Radio: Husker Sports Network
Kyle Perry (0-0) vs. Billy Black (0-1)
Saturday, March 7 (DH 1) • 12:05 p.m. (CT)
Online Stream: BTN+
Radio: Husker Sports Network
Colby Gomes (0-1) vs. Tim Post (0-0)
Saturday, March 7 (DH 2)
Online Stream: BTN+
Radio: Husker Sports Network
Cade Povich (1-2) vs. Will Geerdes (0-1)
Sunday, March 8 • 11:05 a.m. (CT)
Online Stream: BTN+
Radio: Husker Sports Network
TBA vs. TBA