Nebraska advances to Big Ten Championship game following wins over Oregon and Penn State

USA Today

25-05-2025

Nebraska advances to Big Ten Championship game following wins over Oregon and Penn State
The Nebraska baseball team (31-27) entered an unexpected doubleheader in the Big Ten Tournament, facing No. 4 Oregon (42-14) and Penn State (33-23) on Saturday. The Huskers defeated both teams to advance to the Big Ten Championship game for the second year in a row.
Nebraska started the day with the Ducks in the final game of Pool A, after being rescheduled due to weather. The Huskers upset top-seed Oregon 7-3, following a strong offensive start. Nebraska scored in four of the first five innings of the game to take a 6-1 lead over the Ducks.
The Huskers chalked up one more run in the eighth and managed to survive Oregon's comeback attempts. The Ducks got the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, looking to cut Nebraska's lead to two. But the Huskers stood their ground and left all three runners on base to retire the side.
Oregon scored two runs in the ninth, but Nebraska's defense and its lead prevented a potential collapse, allowing for the upset win.
The Huskers also survived a potential comeback attempt from Penn State later in the afternoon in the Big Ten semifinals. Nebraska jumped out to a 6-3 lead over the Nittany Lions after entering the bottom of the fourth down 3-2.
Penn State got its tying runner at the plate in the ninth with two outs. But the Huskers secured the final out at the warning track to punch their ticket to the championship game.
Riley Silva finished 4-for-9 with two RBIs on the day. Cayden Brumbaugh also hit 4-for-9 in the doubleheader, earning one RBI. Gabe Swansen struck 3-for-8 on the day, delivering two home runs, one in each game, to rack up four RBIs.
Hogan Helligso hit 3-for-7 with three RBIs. Case Sanderson and Robby Bolin each finished 2-for-7 on the day, with Sanderson earning two RBIs and Bolin snatching one.
Jackson Brockett (4-3) started against the Ducks and took the win. The southpaw held Oregon to just one run on six hits across six innings, striking out four batters and allowing two walks. Will Walsh earned the save after pitching the final three innings. He surrendered two runs on six hits with two strikeouts and a walk in three innings.
Drew Christo (3-2) grabbed the win against Penn State at the mound, pitching 3.0 innings and allowing three hits against three strikeouts. Tucker Timmerman started at pitcher for Nebraska, tossing two strikeouts and surrendering four hits and three runs.
Luke Broderick earned his 12th save after pitching the final 2.2 innings, punching out three batters while coughing up three walks and two hits.
Nebraska will face the UCLA Bruins for the Big Ten Championship on Sunday afternoon. The first pitch will be at 2 p.m. (CT) on the Big Ten Network.
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