Jayhawks Secure Midweek Victory over Nebraska

The Huskers and Jayhawks entered Tuesday’s midweek contest following victorious weekends, with Nebraska swiping two of three from Northwestern and Kansas sweeping Kansas State, both via doubleheaders on Saturday.  The matchup marked the second time the two met this season, with Will Bolt and the Huskers defeating Dan Fitzgerald’s Jayhawks just two weeks prior.  

While the teams shared winning weekends, the 2024 Big Ten Tournament champion Huskers and the historical bottom-feeder Jayhawks have experienced polar opposite seasons in 2025.  Nebraska entered the campaign ranked in the Top 25 though sat 19-21 with a 7-11 Big Ten record.  Kansas began the season under the radar before quickly becoming a major factor in the Big 12.  The Jayhawks began the year on an 8-game winning streak and held a 31-10 record overall with a 12-6 record against Big 12 foes.  

Husker starter Tucker Timmerman, making the first start of his young career, made quick work of the potent Jayhawk offense in the first inning of work, retiring the side in order.  Meanwhile, Jayhawk starter Thaniel Trumper, also getting his first career starting nod, yielded two baserunners in the first before catcher Ian Francis caught Husker right-fielder Max Buettenback attempting to steal second.  The Husker effort to score on the play was thwarted on a great play from Sawyer Smith back to Francis.  After review, the double play ended the home half for Nebraska.  “That’s a play we practice way more than our guys would like to practice it”, Fitzgerald said of managing the double steal attempt.  

As Jayhawk opponents have grown accustomed to, the KU offense has a short memory and can strike in a hurry.  The second inning began with Tommy Barth plating Dariel Osoria and Brady Counsell on a single right up the middle.  

Just as quickly as the Jayhawk offense ramped up for two runs, the innings ahead featured pitching and defense paving the way for each side. Bolt and company turned to reliever Gavin Blachowicz in relief of Timmerman, prompting deep flyouts from Ballinger and Hauge as the Kansas offense proved to be more bark than bite in a loud third inning.

After two quality innings from Thaniel Trumper, the Jayhawk coaching staff handed the ball to Malakai Vetock, who had followed Trumper’s appearance against Kansas State on Sunday.  Vetock yielded baserunners before a mound visit from pitching coach Brandon Scott and a subsequent successful pickoff move to second base ended the Husker threat.  “My staff works hard on the scouting reports and they spend so much time preparing”, Fitzgerald confirmed the connection between the mound visit and the pickoff.  “Between getting your team ready to compete and also knowing the scouting report, I think the staff is doing just a fantastic job of that prep and that was a great example of it.”

Nebraska would again feel pressure from Jayhawk bats, this time in the form of baserunners.  With runners on the corners, the Huskers were able to escape the 5th inning with reliever Pryce Bender.  The visiting Jayhawks continued to dance out of the danger of scattered Husker hits, relying on Manning West and Dalton Smith to do so.

Just as the scoreboard grew comfortable with zeroes, the Jayhawk offense awoke.  Derek Cerda reached base via fielders choice before eventually being sent home on a double off the bat of Ballinger, extending the Jayhawk lead to 3-0 in the 7th.  

Fitzgerald called on Eric Lin in the 8th, a reliever who needed a boost of confidence after allowing at least one run in his last six outings.  Lin allowed a double, though worked a clean inning, satisfying his Head Coach.  “I thought he was really good, he rode his fastball really well and he spun it and he worked the ball north and south and he pitched with confidence.” Fitzgerald gushed of the senior righthander.  

The Jayhawks added to their efforts with a sacrifice fly from Sawyer Smith, scoring Barth.  Smith had extended his on-base streak to 18 earlier in the contest, though individual accolades are secondary to the veteran shortstop “I’m just trying to do what I can to get on base, score runs and help the team win”.

Lin turned the ball over to closer Alex Breckheimer who closed the door, securing the Jayhawk’s 3rd shutout of the season.   

Kansas improved to 32-10 on the season while the Huskers fell to 19-22 with the contest marking their seventh home loss of the season.  Up next, the Jayhawks travel to Utah, though for Smith and the Jayhawks, the plan remains simple “Don’t focus on getting a sweep, just win Friday, Win Saturday, Win Sunday… day by day”.