BIG TEN CHAMPIONS: Nebraska Outlasts Penn State 2-1 for First Big Ten Tournament Title

Nebraska baseball has won the Big Ten Conference Tournament Championship.

NU outlasted Penn State 2-1 in the league title game Sunday. This is the first conference tournament championship for the Big Red since joining the Big Ten.

Nebraska has won five conference tournament titles in program history: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2024.

No Big Ten team since Ohio State in 1995 had dropped their first game and ended up as the champion. That tournament consisted of only four teams where the Buckeyes had to play four games. Nebraska played in six games over six days.

The Huskers improve to 39-20 ahead of the NCAA Tournament beginning this next weekend. Penn State’s season comes to a close at 29-24.

The Nittany Lions struck first when a pickoff throw to second went awry, scoring the runner from third. From there, No. 8 seed managed just one more hit.

Nebraska didn’t get on the board until Josh Caron belted a home run over the right field wall. Then, in the top of the ninth inning, Gabe Swansen, who had two of Nebraska’s six hits on the day, crushed a double that scored Cayden Brumbaugh.

After Jackson Brocket posted a sensational 8.0 innings, the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year took the hill for the save. Brett Sears worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to take the title back to Lincoln.

Caron, with a conference tournament record six home runs this week, was named Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten Conference Tournament. Other Huskers on the All-Big Ten Tournament team are Swansen, Caron, Josh Stokes, and Will Walsh.

Nebraska will learn its regional destination on Monday. The Selection Show airs at 11 a.m. CDT on ESPN2.

Nebraska’s Path to the Big Ten Conference Tournament Championship

Tuesday: No. 7 seed Ohio State run rules Nebraska in seven innings. | Recap, Photos

Thursday: The Huskers get a gem on the hill form Brett Sears and Drew Christo to eliminate Purdue. | Recap, Photos

Friday: Nebraska avenges their opening game loss to Ohio State by sending the Buckeyes home. | Recap, Photos

Saturday 1: Will Walsh tosses a complete game to send NU to a do-or-die semifinal game. | Recap, Photos

Saturday 2: Nebraska crushes Penn State to reach its first conference tournament title game since 2019. | Recap, Photos

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