NEB BSB: Maryland Preview & Notes
Note: Sunday’s game time has moved to 12:05 p.m. due to Maryland’s travel arrangements.
NEBRASKA vs. MARYLAND
April 29-21, 2024
Lincoln, Neb. | Hawks Field at Haymarket Park
Friday, April 19 – 6:05 PM CT
Pitching: RHP Brett Sears (6-0, 1.32 ERA) vs. RHP Logan Koester (4-4, 5.83 ERA)
TV/Streaming: B1G+
Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App
Saturday, April 20 – 2:02 PM CT
Pitching: RHP Mason McConnaughey (4-2, 2.29 ERA) vs. TBD
TV/Streaming: Nebraska Public Media/B1G+
Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App
Sunday, April 21 – 12:05 PM CT
Pitching: TBD vs. RHP Joey McMannis (0-0, 3.41 ERA)
TV/Streaming: B1G+
Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App
Follow the Game
• All three games of this weekend’s series can be seen on B1G+, while Saturday’s game will be broadcast on Nebraska Public Media, with Larry Punteney and Brian Duensing on the call.
• Fans can also listen to Dave Gustafson and Ben McLaughlin call the action this weekend on the Huskers Radio Network.
• Every game this season can be heard for free on Huskers.com and the Official Nebraska Huskers App for both iOS and android devices.
Nebraska vs. Maryland
• Through 18 all-time meetings, the Terrapins hold an 11-7 advantage over the Huskers in the all-time series.
• Nebraska went 1-4 against Maryland last season after picking up one win in a weekend series in College Park and dropping a pair of games to the Terrapins in the Big Ten Tournament.
McConnaughey Named B1G Pitcher of the Week
• Sophomore Mason McConnaughey was named the Big Ten’s Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon.
• McConnaughey moved to 4-2 on the season after shutting out the Big Ten’s top offense across seven innings. The sophomore matched his career high with nine strikeouts and worked around six singles, allowing just one Rutgers baserunner to reach third base.
• With the seven shutout innings, McConnaughey picked up his second quality start of the season. It also marked Nebraska’s second consecutive weekly accolade after Brett Sears earned recognition last week.
Caron Named to Buster Posey Award Watch List
• Nebraska catcher Josh Caron was named to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Watch List, the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced Thursday afternoon.
• Caron is hitting .308 at the plate for the Huskers with eight doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 40 RBI.
• The junior has hits in 15 of his last 16 games and leads NU with a dozen multi-hit performances this season.
• Caron is one of five catchers nationally this season with a .300-plus batting average and at least 15 extra-base hits and 40 RBI through April 17.
Huskers Boast Big Ten’s Top Duo in ERA
• Brett Sears (1.32) and Mason McConnaughey (2.29) ranked first and second in the Big Ten this season in ERA, as the duo has combined for 105 strikeouts in 96.2 innings of work.
• Nebraska is one of eight teams to hold the top two individual positions in its conference leaders for ERA, joining ECU (AAC), Bryant (America East), Georgetown (Big East), Presbyterian (Big South), William & Mary (CAA), Milwaukee (Horizon) and California Baptist (WAC).
Carey, Columbus Heating Up at the Plate
• Dylan Carey and Ben Columbus have seen their offensive production begin to take shape since Big Ten play began, specifically in the last 10 games.
• Carey began the season with a .244 hitting clip with a team-leading nine doubles and a home run with 11 RBI. In the Huskers’ last 10 games, the sophomore has been hitting .300 (12-for-40) with a pair of doubles and three homers.
• After just five hits in Nebraska’s first 24 games this season, Columbus went 7-for-16 (.438) with a double, two home runs and eight RBI in NU’s last 10 games. The double and two homers are Columbus’ three extra-base hits on the season and his first two career homers with the Big Red.
Sanderson Finds Success Throughout NU Lineup
• Freshman Case Sanderson is hitting .365 at the plate and has found success throughout the lineup for the Huskers, appearing in six different spots in the lineup for the NU offense.
• The freshman is 28th nationally with a .518 on-base percentage and has totaled a triple, two homers, 13 RBI and 15 runs scored this season.
• The freshman has hit .333 or better in five of the six spots he’s appeared in this season, while seeing most of his action in the leadoff spot with 18 at-bats.
Silva’s Speed With Stolen Bases
• Riley Silva has posted a .421 on-base percentage for Nebraska this season and is the only Husker to score 30-plus runs (31) this season.
• The Cambridge, Ontario, native has started 33 of the 34 games this season and has posted a 1.000 fielding percentage (84-for-84) in center field for the Huskers.
• Silva is one of eight DI players to steal 21- plus bases and be caught two-or-fewer times, including the only Power Five player this season.
• The junior is the 10th NU player since 2000 to swipe at least 20 bases, including the first Husker with more than 20 stolen bases in a season since Alex Gordon in 2005.
Bats in the Nebraska Lineup
• Cayden Brumbaugh is hitting .326 in the leadoff spot with nine extra-base hits and 11 RBI, posting knocks in nine of his last 13 games.
• Cole Evans is hitting .277 with six doubles, three home runs, and 30 RBI across 34 games, including 29 starts, while Rhett Stokes holds a .318 batting average with eight doubles and 10 RBI.
• Riley Silva leads the Huskers with 31 runs in 33 games and is 21-for-23 on stolen base attempts.
• Dylan Carey has hits in his last five games and leads the Big Red with 11 doubles, while Ben Columbus is batting .308 with two home runs, a double and 13 RBI.
Huskers in the Pen
• Casey Daiss has a team-high four saves with a 1.93 ERA for the Huskers across 14 innings of work. Daiss has allowed just one earned run over his last nine appearances dating back to the first weekend of the season vs. Oklahoma.
• Jalen Worthley is 2-0 with a pair of saves across a bullpen-high 18.1 innings, making a team-high six multi-inning relief appearances for NU.
• Kyle Perry’s 16 relief appearances lead all NU relievers, as the senior is 1-1 with a career-high tying three saves. Rans Sanders has a 3.18 ERA across 11.1 innings, and his 14 appearances rank as the second most for the Huskers.
• Evan Borst is limiting opponents to a .125 batting average (4-for-32) this season, while posting 11 strikeouts over 9.2 innings of work.
• Kyle Froehlich has appeared in eight games for the Huskers, punching out seven batters across 8.1 innings, while Tucker Timmerman leads all Nebraska freshman with 13 relief appearances.