Around the Horn: Nebraska baseball heads to West Coast for series with UCLA
Big Ten baseball in Los Angeles has arrived. Nebraska (7-8, 1-2) heads to California this weekend for a conference series against UCLA (13-4, 2-1). The Huskers look to build off of a three-game winning streak and a mid-week sweep over Wichita State.
The series marks Nebraska’s second against a Big-Ten newcomer, as the Huskers went 1-2 against Washington last weekend at Haymarket Park. Friday’s matchup with the Bruins kicks off a nine-game road trip which includes visits to Malibu and Irvine, California to face Pepperdine and USC.
UCLA enters the weekend winners of six of its last seven contests, including a dominant victory over No. 18 UC Irvine. Against Vanderbilt, the only other common opponent, the Bruins fell 3-8.
Nebraska seeks its first conference series victory of the season.
Here’s more on the weekend including an opponent preview, pitching matchups, the biggest storylines and broadcast information:
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Projecting Nebraska’s pitching matchups
Friday at 7 p.m: LHP Will Walsh (2-2, 2.70 ERA, 20.0 IP, 23 K) vs. RHP Cody Delvecchio (0-2, 9.18 ERA, 16.2 IP, 19 K)
Saturday at 4 p.m: RHP Ty Horn (0-2, 7.71 ERA, 18.2, 18 K ) vs. RHP Michael Barnett (4-0, 4.91 ERA, 14.2 IP, 19 K)
Sunday at 3 p.m: LHP Jackson Brockett (0-1, 3.29 ERA, 13.2, 12 K) vs. RHP Landon Stump (1-0, 4.08 ERA, 17.2 IP, 14 K)
Weekend storylines to watch
Will Walsh takes over Friday job
After three turbulent weeks, Walsh will start on Friday for Nebraska. The fifth-year senior began the season as the Sunday starter before moving to the bullpen. Mason McConnaughey‘s season-ending injury forced Walsh back into the weekend rotation, where he pitched seven stellar frames last Saturday.
Outside of two disastrous innings against Louisiana, Walsh has been nails this season. Saturday’s outing was no different. Following the Huskers’ 6-11 collapse in game one of a doubleheader, the left-hander shoved. He threw six scoreless frames while striking out nine.
His dominant effort fell apart in the seventh inning, thanks in large part to an error in the field, but Walsh proved he’s the most consistent starting pitcher Nebraska has to offer.
Can Nebraska bring new-found hunger to West Coast?
Nebraska head coach Will Bolt gave his team a challenge after an embarrassing 0-2 Saturday result:
“I would like to see a little more pissed-off mindset.”
Since that night, the Huskers have won three straight while finding some rhythm at the plate and consistency out of the bullpen. It hasn’t been perfect by any means, but the Huskers seem to have responded to Bolt’s ultimatum. They’ve shown grit for the first time since the Vanderbilt win.
“I think I’ve seen a major difference just in terms of having each other’s backs,” head coach Will Bolt said after Wednesday’s victory. “That’s really the main thing. You have to pick each other up in this game.”
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But UCLA is a different beast. Can the Huskers bring that hunger 1,500 miles across the country?
Veteran bats still underwhelming
Devin Nunez continues to dominate, with 15 hits and 10 RBI on the year. Sophomore Max Buettenback smacked the game-winning home run on Wednesday when Nebraska couldn’t buy a hit. Case Sanderson and Will Jesske are two of just five Huskers hitting .250 or above.
But the veteran bats have left much to be desired.
Dylan Carey posted back-to-back strong Sunday outings but fell silent at the plate against Wichita State. Cael Frost only tallied two hits over the last five games. Gabe Swansen is finally out of a slump, but posts too many empty at-bats for a senior leader’s liking.
Nebraska needs those three to step up if it hopes to secure a series win this weekend.
Know the Foe
***UCLA is at its best when trailing. The Bruins have scored first just five times this season, tallying eight come-from-behind wins. Three of those comebacks featured five-run deficits.
***The Bruins rank 16th nationally for runs scored with 160 and 12th nationally for fielding percentage with .983.
***Friday starter Cody Delvecchio has struggled in his last two outings, allowing 13 combined hits to Vanderbilt and Maryland over seven total frames. He gave up two home runs in each contest.
***UCLA snapped a seven-game losing streak to UC Irvine on Tuesday. The Bruins jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning before blowing the game open in the fifth with a four-run frame.
***The Bruins added eight freshmen and three transfers this offseason. Three pitchers joined the staff through the portal, including Ian May from Cal who began the season as UCLA’s Saturday starter but pitched out of the bullpen against UC Irvine on Tuesday.
***Right-hander Michael Barnett is slated to make his first start of the season on Saturday. Barnett has been stellar in 14.2 innings of relief work this season, earning four wins while striking out 19.
***Player to watch: Shortstop Roch Cholowsky
Cholowsky leads all UCLA hitters with a .339 batting average to go along with 19 hits and 24 RBIs. The former freshman All-American hit a three-run ninth-inning home run — his sixth bomb of the year — to lift the Bruins to a win over Maryland last Friday. Cholowsky has three go-ahead home runs and two grand slams this season.
Broadcast Information
TV: Big Ten Plus: HERE
Radio: Huskers Radio Network (Radio simulcast found HERE)
