Around the Horn: Nebraska baseball squares off against Louisiana
No. 23 Nebraska baseball is back on the road this weekend for a three-game series against Louisiana. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 2-2 after losing two of three against San Jose State to open 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 6 p.m: RHP Mason McConnaughey (0-1, 14.73 ERA, 3.2 IP, 9 K) vs. LHP Chase Morgan (1-0, 1.8 ERA, 5.0 IP, 7 K)
Saturday at 2 p.m: RHP Ty Horn ( 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 4.0 IP, 6 K) vs. RHP Blake McGehee (0-1, 12.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 1 K)
Sunday at 1 p.m: LHP Will Walsh (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.0 IP, 6 K) vs. LHP Parker Dillhoff (0-1, 9.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 4 K)
Weekend storylines to watch
How will McConnaughey bounce back?
Friday starter Mason McConnaughey had a disappointing start to his 2025 campaign, allowing six runs in just 3.2 innings against UC Irvine. Despite racking up nine early strikeouts, the right-hander couldn’t get off the field.
The Anteaters began to tee off on McConnaughey in the fourth frame, in which he gave up three runs and loaded the bases before being pulled. Five of his six earned runs came with two outs. How will he respond this weekend in a big-time pitching matchup?
“Mason is going to bounce back,” Nebraska head coach Will Bolt said. “He’s got the maturity. The veteran, he’s been there and done it. I thought his stuff was awesome. He’s touching 95 in the first inning. He struck out eight of the first 11 guys he faced, he’s just got to finish the innings. That’s the takeaway.”
Horn building confidence
After getting “punched in the face” in the first inning against Vanderbilt, Ty Horn settled in and gave Nebraska three commendable frames. The sophomore allowed four hits and two walks, but multiple clutch strikeouts kept the damage to two runs.
With his first Saturday start out of the way, Horn’s confidence will only grow. Last season, he would “baby” his pitches and question himself. Not anymore.
“I think freshman me would have folded,” Horn said of his slow start against Vanderbilt. “I think that’s what I gained from playing in the summer ball: Maintain the fierce mentality that I bring to the game.”
Finding juice at the plate
Nebraska’s bats left much to be desired at times last weekend, particularly against Grand Canyon and UC Irvine. A strong Monday outing from Jackson Brockett was spoiled at the plate, as Nebraska mustered just four hits against the Lopes and went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Outfielder Cael Frost went hitless during his first weekend in a Husker uniform, and Gabe Swansen tallied just one knock outside of his monster outing against Vanderbilt. A 12-hit and 13-run day against San Deigo State is promising, but the Huskers have to be more consistent at the plate going forward.
“We’ll see some different combinations over the course of the weekend because, obviously it’s four games, but we weren’t where we wanted to be offensively,” Bolt said, adding that Nebraska will look for opportunities to get Robby Bolin and Rhett Stokes more at-bats.
Know the Foe
***Louisiana is fresh off a wild comeback victory over Texas Southern on Tuesday. The Ragin’ Cajuns dug themselves into a 10-4 hole after three innings, but a seven-run seventh-inning rally lifted them to a 14-11 win. The mid-week pitching was cause for concern, as three true freshmen made their collegiate debuts before right-hander JR Tollett gave Louisiana four stellar innings in relief and earned the victory.
***Friday starter Chase Morgan led Louisiana to victory in its season opener against San Jose State. The left-handed All-America candidate went five innings with seven strikeouts, allowing just one run. The Ragin’ Cajuns only used two arms in the win, as right-hander James Trimble relieved Morgan and pitched the final four frames. The Huskers have their work cut out for them on Friday if Nebraska hopes to avoid another slow start at the plate.
“[He’s] tough to hit. Doesn’t doesn’t give up much,” Bolt said of Morgan. “We’ve got to be on attack and be disciplined in the zone. When we get our pitch, don’t miss it. It’s it’s going to be a very big challenge.”
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***Louisiana head coach Matt Deggs has been the lead man in Lafayette since 2019, replacing Hall of Famer Tony Robichaux. He brought the Ragin’ Cajuns back to the NCAA Regionals in 2022 after a Sun Belt Conference championship and has since coached back-to-back 40-win teams. Bolt is familiar with Deggs, as the two coached on the same staff at Texas A&M.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for [Deggs],” Bolt said. “Just as a baseball man. I’ve learned a lot from him. Very influential on my offensive career just kind of getting started as a hitting coach and coaching third base.”
***Nebraska’s challenging start continues this weekend, as Louisiana will be the Huskers’ fourth opponent who made the NCAA Tournament in 2024. The Ragin’ Cajuns reached a regional final for the first time since 2016 but fell to No. 3 Texas A&M 9-4. They finished the season 42-20 overall, including an emphatic 10-2 elimination-game win over Texas in the regional.
***Louisiana struggled to cash hits in for runs in the final two games of its series with San Jose State. The Ragin’ Cajuns had just three less knocks but were outscored 20-7 on Saturday and Sunday. Fielding errors certainly didn’t help, as they have already tallied eight on the year. In stark contrast, the Huskers have yet to suffer one.
***Player to watch: Outfielder Brooks Wright
Wright, a true freshman, made his first career start in the series finale against San Jose State and returned to the lineup against Texas Southern. In only seven plate appearances, Wright leads Louisiana with four hits and four RBIs. Watch for the former top-20 prospect to get more opportunities this weekend.
Quick Hits
***Right-hander Tucker Timmerman will need surgery after taking a 106-mph batted ball to the face against Vanderbilt. He will miss extended time, but Bolt expects him to return this season. Timmerman is in “good spirits” despite the frightening injury.
***Nebraska’s batters struck out 44 times over the opening weekend. Leadoff hitter Cayden Brumbaugh said that number wasn’t a “major concern” but the Huskers need to do a better job of competing with two strikes and “limit” their empty at-bats.
***Will Walsh will start over Brockett on Sunday, despite Bolt saying both are “worthy” of that spot. The fifth-year senior completely stifled San Diego State, pitching seven scoreless innings and striking out six. Brockett had six solid innings of his own and had an “awesome” day, according to Bolt. The latter will slide to the bullpen for now until the Huskers begin mid-week games in March.
***Nebraska assistant coach Rob Childress coached Matt Deggs at Northwood in 1993 before they reunited at Texas A&M from 2006 to 2010. Lance Harvell also worked under Deggs in College Station as a graduate assistant and the two coached together at Louisiana during the 2013-2014 season.
***The Huskers are one of just five teams in the country who have not committed an error this season.
***Nebraska and Louisiana have not faced each other since 2009. In 10 all-time meetings, the Huskers are 6-3-1 against the Ragin’ Cajuns.
Broadcast Information
TV (Friday Only): ESPN+: HERE
Radio: Huskers Radio Network (Radio simulcast found HERE)
