3 thoughts as Nebraska baseball makes epic run to win Big Ten championship

After a 15-2 loss to Ohio State on Tuesday, the idea of Nebraska baseball winning the Big Ten tournament championship seemed far-fetched.

Yet, on Sunday, after an epic run that featured five straight wins, including two on Saturday, the Huskers won a pitchers duel against Penn State 2-1, giving Nebraska baseball its first-ever Big Ten tournament title. It was also the first tournament championship of any kind since 2005.

There were so many incredible performances but you have to give it up to Jackson Brockett. He didn’t throw a no-hitter but he might think even more fondly of his showing on Sunday. He got shelled in the Ohio State loss and responded by going eight innings and allowing just one run.

Brockett got the Huskers to the ninth with the game tied. Josh Caron evened the score earlier in the game with his sixth home run of the tournament, a new record. Then, after a key stolen base with two outs, Gabe Swansen delivered a go-ahead double which ended up being the winning run.

Brett Sears, the Big Ten pitcher of the year, came on in the ninth to close it out and the Huskers finally celebrated a postseason championship for the first time in what seems like forever in a men’s sport.

Here are three thoughts.

Hats off to the pitchers

You wondered if Nebraska baseball would have the pitching depth to make it through five games, but outside of the top two starters, the others were incredibly clutch.

The Huskers got 17 innings over the weekend from Will Walsh, who tossed a complete game on Saturday, as well as eight from Brockett in a no-decision. Drew Christo also put together a quality start.

Sears set the tone on Tuesday. Even though he didn’t have his best stuff, he kept Nebraska baseball alive on Wednesday which proved to be the catalyst to a title run.

A legendary team

Caron, Swansen, Sears, Joshua Overbeek, Dylan Carey, and frankly, many others will be remembered for a long time by Nebraska baseball fans after this epic championship run.

The atmosphere was epic on Sunday. This team delivered and left us with so many memorable moments. When Caron went deep, you knew Nebraska was going to win.

However, Husker fans have felt that feeling in various sports, numerous times over the past decade or so. Things rarely seem to work out and that’s part of what makes this team so special.

A tough out in the NCAA regional

If it wasn’t for some mid-week struggles, Nebraska baseball would probably be hosting an NCAA regional next weekend. I still believe the Huskers have a case, although a 13-run loss to Ohio State, a team not in the NCAA tournament, won’t help.

Regardless, Nebraska isn’t a team a No. 1 seed will want to face. Sears and Mason McConnaughey are two of the best pitchers in the Big Ten. With Walsh, Christo, Brockett, and others, the Huskers proved they have pitching depth.

Their lineup has been on a tear in recent weeks and the defense has been making plays. Momentum is great to have going into the postseason and the Huskers have gotten hot at just the right time.

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