Nebraska baseball has back against the wall again in NCAA tournament

The first goal coming into the NCAA tournament was to make it to Sunday for the Nebraska baseball team. Yet, there’s a big difference in how you make it there.

One team advances to Sunday — the regional final — after a win on Friday and Saturday. Nebraska baseball had that chance going into the Stillwater Regional, but after a 5-2 loss to Florida, the Huskers will have to go through the back door to advance.

Game one final. pic.twitter.com/WXvDlEvrhi

— Nebraska Baseball (@HuskerBaseball) May 31, 2024

That means winning four games in a row. Nebraska baseball did just win five games in a row last week, but the NCAA tournament is a much taller task.

For starters, the Huskers would need to win  a game on Saturday and two Sunday. That will test the pitching staff in a way the Big Ten tournament didn’t. Jackson Brockett started two games in the Big Ten tournament and that’s not going to happen this weekend.

What lies ahead for Nebraska baseball

Oklahoma State and Florida is the likely matchup in the undefeated semifinal on Saturday. That’s the game Nebraska needed to be in. The Huskers will square off against Niagara, which is down 7-0 in the second inning.

Win that game and Nebraska would face the loser of Oklahoma State and Florida. The worst-case scenario is facing Oklahoma State in a scenario where you have to beat the Cowboys twice on their home field. The only way to avoid that was beating them on Saturday night.

Now, Florida will get that chance after handing Nebraska ace Brett Sears his first loss of the season. Gabe Swansen hit a home run and doubled in a run. Outside of that, the Huskers couldn’t muster any offense. They did have the bases loaded down 4-2 in the eighth inning, but stranded all three base runners.

The season is on the line Saturday and Nebraska baseball will have to win to advance to Sunday. The first pitch goes out at 1 p.m. CST on ESPN+.

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