Nebraska pitcher Mason McConnaughey describes looseness for Huskers in Big Ten Tournament

Nebraska pitcher Mason McConnaughey had a big performance in a 12-5 win over Ohio State to advance to the Big Ten semifinals.

It was all about him and his teammates staying loose throughout the tournament going into Saturday morning against Indiana. McConnaughey joined the Big Ten Network broadcast in the third inning to discuss what kept the team relaxed.

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Whatever it was, it worked since Nebraska trailed 1-0 and all of a sudden took a 3-1 lead on a 433 foot home run from Josh Caron.

“I’m really just trying to keep the energy positive,” McConnaughey said. “We play hacky sack before every single game and have an energy drink in the middle. So everybody’s competitive trying to win that energy drink and we all enjoy everybody and really just trying to get the the energy flowing and the juices flowing.

“There’s not a lot of integrity when it comes to hacky sack and the guys, they know it they just like to hide it but I have to say Kyle Perry is definitely the hacky sack king. He probably has the most energy drinks out of all of us.”

McConnaughey must’ve had a good game of hacky sack because he went six innings, gave up five hits, three runs (two earned), issued one walk and had 11 strikeouts Friday.

“Just trying to get hitters on their heels and change speeds,” McConnaughey said. “And I knew I had a great defense behind me and really just trying to execute 0-2, 1-2 and get ahead in the count.”

Following a loss to Ohio State to start the tournament, a 15-2 seven-inning game, the Huskers beat Purdue 6-2 and got their revenge on the Buckeyes yesterday.

McConnaughey definitely found a home with the Huskers after coming over from Cloud Community College in Kansas after one season.

“Really just talking to my coaches and close family members and friends,” McConnaughey said. “I was like man, Cloud County has such a special place in my heart and I really, really had a difficult time leaving but I felt like the coaching staff here believed in me. And they trusted everything that I do and I trusted them in the decision and I felt like it was the best of both worlds and it was time to make the transition.”