No. 3 Huskers Host Illinois State for Two-Game Set

Lincoln ? Fresh off a sweep of nationally ranked Alabama, the third-ranked Nebraska baseball team continues its 16-game homestand with a pair of games against Illinois State on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.

First pitch for both games is set for 1:05 p.m. and the games will be carried on selected Pinnacle Sports Network affiliates (check local Pinnacle affiliate for availability) and on the Internet at Huskers.com. Tickets are available for both games with prices at $7 (adults) and $5 (youth and seniors).

The Huskers, 11-2 on the season and winners of seven straight games, climbed in the first two national polls released Monday morning, moving from sixth to third in Collegiate Baseball and from 14th to 12th in the Baseball America poll (ESPN/Sports Weekly poll is announced later Monday afternoon).

The Huskers have been tough at home, as they bring a 14-game home winning streak into Tuesday’s contest. NU has won its last 29 straight non-conference home games dating back to the 2004 campaign and are 39-1 in home non-conference games since the start of the 2004 campaign.

Sophomore right-hander Matt Foust makes his first career start on Tuesday, as he takes to the hill for the first time since the season opener. In that outing, Foust threw three innings of one-hit relief in an 11-1 win over Charleston Southern. Foust has a 1.80 ERA and two saves in six career appearances. Nebraska has not announced its Wednesday starter.

Offensively, the Huskers have relied on the offensive production of sophomores Bryce Nimmo (.386-1-10) and Ryan Wehrle (.375-1-13) along with junior college transfers Luke Gorsett (.385-7-14) and Nick Jaros (.340-1-9). Nimmo is hitting .462 with a .548 on-base percentage over his last seven contests and has five multi-hit games in that span. Gorsett has team-bests in homers and RBIs and saw his 12-game hit streak snapped in Sunday’s win.

Illinois State is 2-9 on the season after dropping two-of-three games at the Metrodome Tournament last weekend. The Redbirds have faced a challenging early season schedule, as four of their first 11 games have been against nationally ranked teams, including a 4-3 win at nationally ranked Southern Miss. The Redbirds, who have not played a home game, also took on Missouri in Columbia.

Offensively, infielders Kyle O’Brein and Jesse Griswold have been the top performers for the Redbird. O’Brein leads ISU with a .343 average along with two homers and nine RBIs, while Griswold also has two homers and seven RBIs while hitting .324. Illinois State has not announced its rotation for the midweek series.

Following Wednesday’s game, the Huskers, who play six games at home during spring break, will open a four-game series against South Dakota State beginning Friday afternoon.

-- Huskers --