Nebraska baseball's Robert Olsen, Bryce Hughes, Brooks Kneifl all enter NCAA transfer portal

Nebraska baseball suffered a big blow on Monday as it saw three players enter the NCAA transfer portal. Robert Olsen, Bryce Hughes and Brooks Kneifl all intend to play elsewhere next season after helping lead the Cornhuskers to a Big Ten Tournament title.

All three players had a limited role on the team in 2024. Olsen is a pitcher who appeared in 13 games and recorded nine strikeouts across 8.1 innings. Hughes, an infielder, played in just 12 contests after redshirting in 2023, while Kniefl did not see any action this past year as a true freshman.

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A native of Wayne, Nebraska, Kniefl is a left-handed pitcher who will have four seasons of eligibility remaining at his next stop. Olsen was a graduate transfer who spent the first three years of his college career at Brown. He started 17 of the 28 games he appeared in for the Bears and recorded 107 strikeouts.

As for Hughes, he arrived in Lincoln last season after playing three seasons at Alvin Community College (TX). He batted .324 and had 114 hits and 39 RBI during his junior college career.

Nebraska is coming off of 40-22 record but saw its season end in the Stillwater Regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament against Florida. The Big Ten Championship marked the fifth in program history for the Cornhuskers and their first since 2005. The NCAA Tournament appearance was also their first since 2021.

Nebraska baseball will look to build upon that impressive performance in 2025, hoping that these recent transfer portal departures are the only ones. Monday was the first day the transfer portal opened for baseball and players can enter their name for the next 30 days up until July 2.

Nebraska falls against Florida in season-ending loss

Nebraska baseball’s 2024 season came to a close with a 17-11 loss to Florida at the Stillwater Regional on Sunday afternoon.

Head coach Will Bolt and company grabbed an early lead, but couldn’t keep pace with the Gators’ sluggers. Florida totaled 16 hits, seven went for extra bases, and chased Husker starter Jackson Brockett from the game in the second after overcoming an early 4-2 deficit.

Nebraska drew within one after the top of the sixth inning, but the Gators outscored the Huskers 10-5 the rest of the way. Florida scored four or more runs in three innings.

“We poured it all out there though,” Bolt said. “I have no regrets about this game. Obviously we weren’t on the right side of it but we competed our tails off the whole time we were out there. These guys did it together. They’re a championship ball club for a reason and its cause of their heart and toughness and they love each other. I’m very grateful for this 2024 team.”