Nebraska Triumphs Over South Dakota State in Thrilling Regional Opener
In a dramatic and electrifying opener at Haymarket Park, the No. 1 seed Nebraska Huskers clinched a 4-1 victory against the No. 4 seed South Dakota State Jackrabbits. A sold-out crowd witnessed the Huskers advance to the winner’s bracket, setting the stage for their next game at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Amidst a college baseball day marked by upsets, where eight out of the first 13 games saw lower-seeded teams prevail, Nebraska managed to narrowly secure a win in their first home regional game since 2008. This victory came on a day dominated by strong pitching performances.
Leading the charge on the mound was right-handed sophomore Carson Jasa, who delivered an impressive performance by allowing just one run over 6 1/3 innings. Jasa expressed his admiration for the home crowd, stating, “They give us a ton of juice, at the dish, on the mound, making plays. It’s just — knowing that we have 8,000 people behind our backs rooting us on is huge.”
The energy from the stands was a significant factor, as noted by Head Coach Will Bolt, who described the fans as a “difference-maker.” He added, “It is just an unbelievable college baseball atmosphere. I’m so excited that so many eyes got to see what we’ve known, is that we’ve got an unbelievable fan base.”
A total of 7,828 fans were in attendance for what was Lincoln’s first regional baseball event in over a decade.
The action on the field picked up in the bottom of the fourth inning when Nebraska’s offense came alive. Trey Fikes delivered a crucial single, driving in Jett Buck to put the Huskers on the board. Mac Moyer followed with a groundout that brought in a second run, giving Nebraska a 2-0 lead as they entered the seventh inning.
Jasa, who had maintained a scoreless game until then, faced a challenge in the seventh when he hit a batter and allowed a single, putting runners on the corners without any outs. However, strategic plays ensured that South Dakota State couldn’t capitalize on this opportunity. A misjudged bunt attempt allowed Jasa to tag out a Jackrabbit runner at home, prompting a pitching change as fellow sophomore J’Shawn Unger took over.
South Dakota State’s Nic Werk then singled to left field, but Buck’s precise throw home resulted in another Jackrabbit being tagged out in a close play, preserving Nebraska’s lead and momentum.
