Weather Delay Halts Huskers’ Rally Against Ole Miss in NCAA Tournament
The Nebraska Cornhuskers found themselves trailing 6-3 against Ole Miss as they entered the ninth inning. However, the game was unexpectedly paused due to a weather delay caused by lightning strikes in the vicinity.
Ole Miss seized the momentum in the sixth inning, capitalizing on offensive opportunities to score all six of their runs. Despite a strong pitching performance from Nebraska’s junior right-hander Ty Horn, who kept Ole Miss scoreless through the first five innings, the Huskers faced challenges as the game progressed.
Senior transfer outfielder Jett Buck provided an offensive highlight for Nebraska, smashing his second home run of the regional in the fourth inning, which gave the Huskers an early 1-0 advantage.
The turning point arrived in the sixth inning when Ole Miss, the No. 2 regional seed, managed to score three runs off Horn, thus taking a 3-1 lead. The Nebraska fans, known for their enthusiastic support, were particularly vocal during the bottom of the sixth, creating an electric atmosphere that momentarily disrupted Ole Miss’s game flow. Rebel pitcher Taylor Rabe, along with head coach Mike Bianco and catcher Austin Fawley, had to pause the game twice due to the noise, yet Rabe maintained his composure to escape the inning unscathed.
As the game continued, Ole Miss extended their lead by adding two more runs in the seventh and one in the eighth, bringing the score to 6-1. Yet, Nebraska wasn’t ready to concede. Pinch hitter Max Buttenback reignited the home crowd by launching a two-run homer over the left field fence, narrowing the deficit to 6-3 just before the weather delay.
In their opening game of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nebraska had secured a 4-1 victory over No. 4 regional seed South Dakota State. The winner of the current match-up will gain a significant advantage by advancing with a 2-0 record, forcing any challengers from the loser’s bracket to defeat them twice to clinch the regional title.
