BSB Preview: vs. New Mexico State

NEBRASKA vs. NEW MEXICO STATE
March 22-24, 2024
Hawks Field at Haymarket Park

Friday, March 22 – 4:05 PM CT
Pitching: RHP Brett Sears (3-0, 1.44 ERA) vs. RHP Treyjen Meza (3-2, 5.87 ERA)
TV/Streaming: B1G+
Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App

Saturday, March 23 – 2:05 PM CT
Pitching: RHP Drew Christo (1-1, 4.88 ERA) vs. LHP Josh Sharman (1-0, 7.36 ERA)
TV/Streaming: B1G+
Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App

Sunday, March 24 – 1:05 PM CT
Pitching: RHP Mason McConnaughey (2-2, 1.65 ERA) vs. LHP Hayden Walker (1-0, 4.30 ERA)
TV/Streaming: B1G+
Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App

Follow the Game
• All three games of this weekend’s series vs. New Mexico State can be seen on B1G+.
• Fans can also listen to Greg Sharpe and Ben McLaughlin call the action this weekend on the Huskers Radio Network.
• Every game this season can be heard for free on Huskers.com and the Official Nebraska Huskers App for both iOS and android devices.

Nebraska vs. New Mexico State
• Through 10 all-time meetings, the Huskers hold a 7-3 advantage over the Aggies in the all-time series.
• Nebraska and New Mexico State meet in Lincoln for the second time in three seasons after the Big Red swept the Aggies in a pair of midweek matchups. 
• The Huskers rolled to a 12-6 win in their first matchup, while Efry Cervantes’ walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth sealed the midweek sweep over the Aggies in 2022.

Nebraska Records Best 20-Game Start Since ‘08
• Nebraska recorded its best 10-game start since 2008 with a 15-5 mark entering this weekend.
• Since going 17-3 in 2008, the Big Red have won 14 of its first 20 games in three seasons, never reaching the 15-win mark until this year.

Weekend Rotation for the Big Red
• With two weekend starters taken in the 2023 MLB Draft, it’s a new-look weekend rotation for the Huskers this year.
• Brett Sears is set to toe the rubber on Friday night. Sears is 3-0 in five starts, posting a 1.44 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 31.1 innings, while holding opponents to a .128 hitting clip.
• Junior Drew Christo takes the mound on Saturday afternoon for his fifth start of the season. The Elkhorn, Neb., native is 1-1 on the season with a 4.88 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 24 innings.
• Sophomore Mason McConnaughey gets the nod for the second time this week after dazzling in his first career start against Omaha on Tuesday. McConnaughey is 2-2 on the season with a 1.65 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 16.1 innings of work.

McConnaughey Moves to Rotation After Success
• Mason McConnaughey made his first start of the season on Tuesday vs. Omaha, tossing five shutout innings and punching out a career-high nine batters in the Huskers’ 11-5 win against the Mavericks.
• McConnaughey hasn’t allowed a run across his last five outings, totaling 12.1 innings pitched with 21 strikeouts to just six walks.
• Over seven appearances this season, the Topeka, Kan., native is 2-2 with a 1.65 ERA, as opponents are hitting just .190 against the sophomore.

Sears Shines in Starting Role
• Brett Sears ranks among national leaders in WHIP (0.68, 3rd) and hits allowed per nine innings (4.02, 11th), while allowing just four of his 14 hits to go for extra-bases.
• In five starts, Sears is 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA and is one of three starting pitchers in DI this season with 30-plus innings pitched, 35-plus strikeouts and five earned runs or fewer.

Sears With Quality Starts
• The Westphalia, Iowa, native allowed just three hits to Nicholls across six scoreless innings in his fifth start last Saturday, notching his fourth consecutive quality start for the Huskers.
• The four straight quality starts are the most by a Nebraska hurler since Matt Waldron recorded six straight in 2019.
• The right-hander has punched out six-plus batters in all five of his starts to begin the season, already setting a career-high with 34 strikeouts over that span.
• Sears has allowed four-or-fewer hits in all of his outings, as opponents are hitting just .128 (14-for-109) against the senior.

Will Walsh Thrives in Two-Way Role
• Will Walsh has gone 6-for-11 at the plate over his last three games, launching three home runs and recording nine RBI against Nicholls and Omaha.
• Walsh has homered in back-to-back-to-back games for the Big Red, becoming the first to do so since Max Anderson last season.
• The Leawood, Kan., native also made his fifth start on the mound on Wednesday, tossing six scoreless innings and striking out a season-high nine batters without a walk in a 3-1 win vs. North Dakota State.
• It marked the second consecutive quality start for Walsh and the second in the last four games for the NU pitching staff.

Caron's RBI Production Through 20 Games
• Josh Caron has been a key contributor for the NU offense this season, hitting .306 at the plate with five doubles, a triple, five home runs, 24 RBI and 18 runs scored.
• The junior leads the Big Red with five home runs and eight multi-hit performances this season.
• Since 2012, Caron is one of five Huskers to drive in 24-plus runs in Nebraska's first 20 games to start the season.