FRISCO, Texas – The University of Nebraska-Lincoln closed out the first day of the Frisco College Baseball Classic with an 8-3 victory over Sam Houston State University.
Sophomore Ryan Peterson started for the Bearkats, allowing three early runs but settling in to pitch six innings. He gave up four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six before exiting ahead of the seventh. Junior Mason McConnaughey started for Nebraska, making his third appearance of the season. McConnaughey worked through early trouble in the second inning, aided by key defensive plays from his outfielders, but was pulled in the fourth after Sam Houston rallied. The junior went 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out three.
Nebraska struck first in the top of the second when sophomore Case Sanderson singled up the middle, setting up senior Cael Frost for a two-run homer to left-center, giving the Cornhuskers an early 2-0 lead. The Bearkats threatened in the bottom half, putting two runners on with no outs, but junior Robby Bolin and senior Gabe Swansen made diving catches to halt the rally.
The Cornhuskers extended their lead in the third. After loading the bases with one out, junior Dylan Carey hit a fielder’s-choice grounder to second, scoring junior Cayden Brumbaugh to make it 3-0. Sam Houston responded in the bottom of the inning's bottom with a two-out rally. Sophomores Grant Nottlemann and Blake Brown drew walks, and freshman Parker Blackman lined a two-run double to left, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
The Bearkats tied the game in the fourth. Senior Hunter Autrey led off with a double, advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Brady Christensen, making it 3-3. Sam Houston head coach Jay Sirianni praised Autrey’s performance, saying, “Hunter has had a really good start to the year. He didn’t play a whole lot until his junior season last year, so he’s just now getting comfortable. He’s been steady for us.”
Junior Jalen Worthley and senior Will Walsh provided critical relief for Nebraska. Worthley, who replaced McConnaughey in the fourth, pitched 1.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits. Walsh followed with a convincing performance, stabilizing the game for the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska reclaimed the lead in the sixth when Frost launched his second home run of the night, a solo shot to right field, putting the Cornhuskers ahead 4-3. Frost became the first player in Frisco Classic history to hit multiple home runs in a game. They broke the game open in the seventh when senior Joshua Overbeek doubled and freshman Devin Nunez drove him in with an RBI single. Brumbaugh then delivered the decisive blow, crushing a two-run homer that splashed into the lazy river at Riders Field, extending the lead to 7-3.
Nebraska head coach Will Bolt praised Nunez’s consistency and work ethic, saying, “He’s really worked hard since the fall. His confidence wasn’t quite there. He’s a kid from Texas … he’s been one of our best guys since pre-season.”
The Cornhuskers added an insurance run in the eighth. Senior Gabe Swansen and sophomore Will Jesske singled, and senior Hogan Helligso drove in Swansen with an RBI single, making it 8-3.
Junior Garrett Baumann and senior Caden Copeland combined for four runs on six hits in relief for Sam Houston, but the Bearkats couldn’t overcome Nebraska’s late offensive surge.
With the win, Nebraska improves to 8-4 on the season and will face No. 2 LSU tomorrow at 4 p.m. in a highly anticipated, sold-out matchup. Sam Houston will look to bounce back against Kansas State at noon.
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