Stryker Report: Sears Is a Good Start
Having broken through in impressive fashion with seven wins in their first three weekends on the road in February and March, the Nebraska baseball team flopped badly in its home opener, losing 11-3 to South Alabama on March 8, but the Huskers battled back to win the next two and take the series from the Jaguars, raising their record to 9-4. See highlights in the video report above.
Brett Sears, the the senior transfer from Western Illinois, has risen to the top of the starting rotation with four solid efforts to start the season. He improved to 2-0 by allowing just two runs on four hits over a career-high eight innings to even the series with a 13-2 win Saturday, March 9.
Outside of Sears, the Husker pitching staff has had both bright spots and erratic moments. Mason McConnaughey had two bad games early, but came back to give the Huskers a chance to win the rubber match Sunday, stopping the Jaguars’ early momentum and allowing a big comeback by Nebraska’s bats, which eventually prevailed 12-7. Freshman Tucker Timmerman from Beatrice had a good relief outing Sunday, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings to end the game.
The top offensive performer through the first month of the season has been Canadian transfer center fielder Riley Silva, who can cover a lot of ground and steal bases but has batted .370 thus far. NU won its road series with small ball but started hitting homers against South Alabama.
The biggest concern that surfaced in the first home series was problems with fielding. Nebraska committed five errors in its win Sunday. That kind of inconsistency would doom the Huskers quickly if allowed to continue. It may be just an aberration.