Huskers Suffer Setback at Wichita State

Photo Credit: Nebraska Athletic Communications

Nebraska wrapped up its midweek action in Wichita with a 9-3 loss at Wichita State on Wednesday night at Eck Stadium.

Nebraska (10-5) totaled three runs on five hits and committed two errors, while Wichita State (10-6) recorded nine runs, 10 hits and an error.

Cayden Brumbaugh led the Huskers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and a run scored. Clay Bradford was 1-for-2 with a solo homer and a walk, and Max Buettenback had a pinch-hit inside-the-park home run in the ninth inning. Joshua Overbeek had a double in his first appearance since opening weekend, while Cole Evans drove in one of Nebraska’s three runs.

Ryan Harrahill dropped to 0-1 on the season after giving up four runs, three earned, on four hits in one inning. The freshman issued one walk and struck out a pair of batters while making his collegiate debut. Caleb Clark came on in relief of Harrahill, surrendering five runs on three hits and two walks across two outs.

A six-man committee comprised of Bobby Olsen, Grant Cleavinger, Kyle Froehlich, Jalen Worthley, Rans Sanders and Mason McConnaughey combined to allow just three hits in 6.1 scoreless innings of relief.

Brumbaugh led off the game with a double into the alley in left-center, but Nebraska couldn’t grab the lead in the opening frame after the next three Huskers were retired in order.

Wichita State jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first after plating four runs on four hits and an NU error. A two-out RBI single through the left side broke the scoreless tie, while a two-RBI triple down the right-field line grew the lead to three. A throwing error on a play at first base tacked on the Shockers’ final run in the inning.

A two-out grand slam highlighted a five-run second inning to give Wichita State a 9-0 lead through two.

Brumbaugh reached on a one-out walk in the sixth, followed by Overbeek’s double down the left-field line to place runners on second and third. The Huskers plated their first run of the night on Evans’ RBI groundout to second, scoring Brumbaugh. 

A pair of back-to-back solo homers in the ninth for the Huskers made it a 9-3 game. Bradford drilled a 1-1 pitch off the batter’s eye in center, followed by Buettenback’s pinch-hit inside-the-park homer down the left-field line. Buettenback’s inside-the-park homer is Nebraska’s first since Joe Acker vs. Rutgers in 2021.

Nebraska begins an eight-game homestand with a three-game series this weekend with Nicholls on Friday-Sunday, March 15-17 at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park. First pitch of Friday’s series opener between the Huskers and Colonels is set for 6:05 p.m.