Strong pitching and outstanding two-out hitting resulted in an exciting Nebraska win over the Northeastern Huskies in the MLB Desert Invitational at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona to start the season 2-0.
Carson Jasa was solid in his first start of the season, save for the second inning. The Colorado flamethrower threw five complete innings, notching a career high nine strikeouts, including seven in a row. Cornhusker hitters contributed as well, particularly with two outs when they scored five of their seven runs.
Nebraska got on the board first in the top of the second inning with Dylan Carey’s lead-off home run, his first dinger of the season. His focus in the off-season was to develop more power, which showed tonight was three solid contacts that went off the bat over 100-mph.
Jasa’s one poor inning was the second when after a ground out and a strikeout, he surrendered a single to Eric Cha, a double to Anthony Ruggerio, a walk to Matt Brinker, and a double to Charlie Criscola. That resulted in three runs before he struck out Carmelo Musacchia to end the inning and start his string of seven straight K’s.
The Big Red came right back in the top of the third, starting with a one-out single by Case Sanderson. After Overbeek flew out to centerfield, Carey ripped a single up the middle for his second hit of the game, putting two on with two out. Lefty Max Buettenback then smoked a double to score two to tie the game 3-3. Cole Kitchens then stroked a single to drive in Buettenback to put the Cornhuskers up 4-3.
With Jasa striking out every Husky that stepped in the batter’s box in the third and fourth innings with a wicked breaking ball, Nebraska got runners on base, but did not plate a run.
Northeastern took advantage of a Carson Jasa throwing error in the bottom of the fifth as he threw high to first base on a Criscola dribbler. After the freshman second baseman stole second, he scored on a Musacchia single to tie the game.
Nebraska went on top again in the sixth, again with two outs. Jett Buck got a hit after striking out his first three at-bats and then advanced to third base on a Sanderson double. Overbeek then made it back-to-back two-baggers, scoring two to make it 6-4. They added an insurance run in the seventh.
Grant Cleavinger struggled through the sixth inning, hitting a batter and walking another one, but also striking out two. He gave way to Ryan Harrahill, who pitched two three-up, three-down innings in the seventh and eighth innings.
With a three-run lead, new closer Kevin Mannell made his first appearance of the season, and it was a tense one for Cornhusker fans. After opening the inning with a strikeout with his nasty slider, the next three batters reached base. The game almost ended on a double play off the bat of Criscola, but he beat the throw to first. Mannell then ended the game with a decisive strikeout of lead-off batter Musacchia.
Mannell got his first save as a Cornhusker and Carson Jasa got his first win of the season. This is the first time since 2018 that Nebraska has started the year off 2-0.
Notes:
- Other than hard-core college baseball fans, most folks in Nebraska aren’t aware that the Northeastern Huskies place some very good baseball. After making a name for themselves in the Fayetteville Regional in 2021 battling against the big boys, they have averaged over 40 wins a season and have been a regular in the post-season. By most measures, they had the best pitching staff in the country a year ago. Unfortunately for them, many of those arms are gone.
- Jeter Worthley has turned some heads in the early season as a true freshman behind the plate. He shows a lot of maturity, swings a good bat, has surprising foot-speed, and has the confidence of the pitchers. That said, Husky coach Mike Glavin may have exposed his greatest weakness – his arm strength. Northeastern runners swiped three bases off him and the throws were not close.
- Nebraska’s middle five batters – Sanderson, Overbeek, Carey, Buettenback, and Kitchens – all had two hits. Overbeek and Buettenback had two RBI.
- Northeastern did not have a hit after the fifth inning.
- Head Coach Mike Glavin is the brother of Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer Tom Glavin.
- Cooper Katskee is under the weather so Gavin Blachowicz will get the start tomorrow vs. Grand Canyon.