After going 1-2 last weekend at Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., including two straight losses to close the weekend, Ohio State (21-21, 10-11 Big Ten) aims to get back into the win column as it takes on No. 16 Nebraska (34-11, 17-4 Big Ten) for a three-game series at Bill Davis Stadium in Columbus. The Buckeyes and Cornhuskers will clash at 6 p.m. on Friday, 7 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
On the mound, the Buckeyes will roll out their usual weekend rotation versus one of the conference’s top teams. Gavin Kuzniewski (3-2, 5.53 ERA) gets the ball Friday night after earning the lone win last weekend against Rutgers, where he tossed six scoreless innings. The sophomore right-hander leads Ohio State’s pitching staff with 52 strikeouts in 55.1 innings and will look to set the tone Friday night against a potent Nebraska lineup.
Following Kuzniewski, junior Chris Domke (4-5, 6.58 ERA) is slated to start on Saturday after throwing his first career complete game last weekend, allowing just one earned run in eight innings in the Buckeyes’ 3-0 loss to the Scarlet Knights. Domke is third on the team with 52.0 innings pitched and has struck out 47 while walking just 19. Junior Pierce Herrenbruck (4-3, 4.72 ERA) rounds out the rotation on Sunday. The right-hander is tied for the team lead with Kuzniewski in innings pitched (55.1), but is first on Ohio State with 61 hits allowed.
Offensively, Ohio State has leaned on a balanced lineup featuring seven starters batting above .260. Led by shortstop Henry Kaczmar, who has been one of the Big Ten’s most consistent hitters with a .333 average (23rd in the conference), along with a team-high 58 hits and a conference-leading 20 doubles. The senior also leads the team with 40 runs scored and has added 36 RBIs.
First baseman Dane Harvey has provided the power in the Buckeyes’ lineup, leading Ohio State with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs while batting .313. He ranks fifth in the Big Ten with a .695 slugging percentage. Second baseman Lee Ellis adds another dimension with his speed, leading the team with 14 stolen bases (7th in Big Ten) and four triples (T-1st).
Ohio State is 3-7 in its last seven games, including a 2-1 series win versus Penn State, a loss to Marshall, a 1-2 series loss at Rutgers and Purdue’s 3-0 sweep of the Buckeyes.
Nebraska, on the other hand, arrives in Columbus with a 7-3 record in its last 10 games. At 34-11 overall and 17-4 in conference play, the Cornhuskers have accrued their best 45-game start since 2008.
The Huskers’ offense has been especially dangerous, averaging 7.6 runs per game, which ranks 59th nationally. Ohio State ranks tied for 99th in the nation at 7.0 runs per game.
Nebraska’s lineup is anchored by outfielder Mac Moyer and infielder Dylan Carey, who form one of the nation’s most productive duos with 73 and 68 hits, respectively, ranking tied for fourth and 19th nationally.
The Cornhuskers also feature strong depth, with seven starting batters hitting above .310, as well as one non-starter in outfielder Will Jesske. Nebraska has also scored 10 or more runs 14 times this season.
On the mound, Nebraska’s weekend rotation presents a significant challenge for Ohio State. Friday starter sophomore Carson Jasa (8-1, 3.75 ERA) has been dominant, posting 82 strikeouts and just 36 walks in 57.2 innings pitched. The 6-7, 215-pound right-hander’s strikeout total ranks third among Big Ten pitchers behind USC’s Mason Edwards and UCLA’s Logan Reddemann and is 23rd nationally.
The Cornhuskers’ Saturday starter, sophomore right-hander Gavin Blachowicz, has been equally effective with a 2.62 ERA and a 4-1 record, while Cooper Katskee (5-1, 4.17 ERA) will pitch in Sunday’s finale, and has made the second most appearances (13) among Nebraska’s four starters. He has tossed 54 strikeouts and allowed a .223 batting average in 49.2 innings pitched.
Out of the bullpen, sophomore right-hander J’Shawn Unger has locked down Nebraska’s closer role with nine saves and a 2.84 ERA, limiting opposing hitters to a .167 batting average.
This weekend also offers a crucial opportunity for Ohio State to climb the Big Ten standings as the regular season winds down, with the Buckeyes currently sitting in eighth place in the conference. With a 12-team conference tournament field, multiple wins against the conference’s second-ranked opponent would significantly boost Ohio State’s positioning with just eight regular-season contests remaining following the series between the Buckeyes and Huskers.
Image courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
