Nebraska

Nebraska Baseball Weekend Preview: South Alabama

Published

2 years ago

March 8, 2024

Press Room

Nebraska Baseball Weekend Preview: South Alabama

South Alabama Jaguars (10-3) at Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-3)

Location: Hawks Field at Haymarket Park, Lincoln, NE

Dates: March 8th-10th

Times (all CST): Friday @ 4:05pm, Saturday @ 2:05pm, Sunday @ 12:05pm

Head Coaches: Will Bolt (5th season, 104-78-1) & Mark Calvi (13th season, 377-289)

TV/Stream: B1G+

Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App

We continue our tour of the former position coaches from the back to back CWS champion South Carolina by moving from their hitting coach last week at CofC to their pitching coach in Mark Calvi this week at USA.

USA comes to Lincoln to complete the home and home series agreement between the teams, after the Huskers went down to Mobile last season and swept the Jags in dominating fashion by a combined 29-10. Speaking of traveling, this will be the first time USA has left the friendly confines of Stanky Field this season.

The Jags have accumulated a 10-3 record against some, well, lesser competition. Their biggest win of the season thus far came against future Husker opponent Nicholls. They beat the 11-3 colonels 11-10 in 10 innings, doing their best Nebraska impression, scoring 5 runs in the 9th and 10th innings to secure the win.

Pitching Probables

Game 1: RHP Drew Christo (1-0, 3.07 ERA) vs. RHP Carson Swilling (1-1, 3.07 ERA)

Game 2: RHP Brett Sears (1-0, 1.56 ERA) vs. LHP Cam Hill (2-0, 1.13 ERA)

Game 3: LHP Ty Horn (1-0, 1.35 ERA) vs. RHP Cade Carlson (0-1), 6.55 ERA)

A week after recording his first quality start and setting a personal best outing with 6.0 innings pitched at GCU, Drew Christo did the same at CofC. Another new career high 6.2 innings kept the game close enough for the offense to come alive in the 9th. He hasn’t put up the strikeout numbers some may have expected with his available pitches, but the same could have been said for Jace Kaminska last year, and he still formed a pretty good 1-2 punch with Emmitt Olson.

The Brett Sears Express rolls on. The Husker ace struck out 7 and only gave up 2 runs in his 6 innings at College of Charleston last week, with those runs coming off a 2-run home run in the 2nd inning. The late starting NU offense kept him from earning a decision. Despite his red hot start to the season, he’s only 1-0.

Just like last year, the starting pitching after the first two games of the weekend has been a mixed bag. Will Walsh and Caleb Clark have ERAs in the 6.00 range. The on-going search for the 3rd starter now turns to Ty Horn. Horn has made 3 appearances on the season so far, pitching in 6.2 innings, with his longest outing being 3 innings against GCU where he gave up one unearned run. In his last outing against CofC, he allowed 2 runs, 1 earned in 2 innings following Brett Sears. He’s been getting some of the highest praise of the Freshmen pitchers, so its not a surprise that he is the first to earn a chance at locking down the Sunday spot.

USA’s ace Carson Swilling is a Junior transfer from Auburn. He was one of the top relievers for the Tigers his freshman and sophomore years, and is returning to Nebraska for the first time since pitching in the CWS and striking out a pair of Arkansas batters. So far for USA, he’s thrown about 5 innings per start, and about 90-100 pitches. He’s given up 5 runs in his past two games, after shutting out Lamar over 5 innings in his team debut.

Stop me when you’ve hear this before, but Saturday starter Cam Hill is a transfer from Auburn University. The senior played his first 3 years at Auburn, with the first two as a pitcher/DH, and his junior year as strictly a first baseman. He’s done a complete 180 and is now purely a pitcher for the Jags. After a rocky inning in his first start against Southern Indiana, he’s in the midst of a 12 inning shutout streak.

Cade Carlson, the Sunday starter for USA did everything at Tennessee State last season. Carlson led the Southern Conference in ERA last year in conference games with a 2.38 ERA. Towards the end of the season, he was the ace of the staff, tossing a 7 inning shutout in one game and then throwing 8 innings in a 2-1 loss in the SoCon tournament to eventual champion Samford.

South Alabama Scouting Report

The Jags are coming off their worst season under Calvi. After finishing no worse than 6th in the 14 team Sun Belt Conference, they finished 11th last year. They actually weren’t sitting terribly awful with a month left to go in the season, 23-21 overall and 11-10 in conference. Then a 10 game losing streak to end the season happened, highlighted by a series against Coastal Carolina in which USA gave up an average of 13 runs per game, and that just sent the season down the drain.

The top returning hitter, who was the biggest thorn in Nebraska’s side last year is CF Will Turner. He nearly hit for the cycle in the final game of the series last year, falling a home run shy. He finished the year as a 2nd team all Southern Conference, hitting .349 with 9 home runs and 52 RBIs. He’s a little slower out of the gate this season, hitting .256, but has already hit 3 home runs and has walked EIGHTEEN TIMES to push his on-base percentage to an astonishing .469.

They have a freshman off to an incredibly hot start. Right fielder Ethan Melton is leading the team with a .388 batting average, and 1.088 OPS. Not so fun fact, he chose USA over a little school called Nebraska. They also landed an impact transfer in second baseman Brennan Holt. Anytime you can get a dude on your roster that LSU landed out of high school, you take him. Spent a year at Okie State between the two programs after being injured his freshman year at LSU. He is batting .333 and leads the team with 6 doubles and adds 6 steals.

The Jags bullpen had a lot of issues last year, despite restocking with a lot of JUCO players. They do return their closer who is off to an incredibly good start. Grant Wood already has 3 saves on the season, and has struck out 12 batters in 6.2 innings and only given up 1 earned run. They added 2 impact newcomers that are leading their team in appearances in Citadel transfer Gant Starling, and JUCO transfer Logan Wash. Starling has always been a strikeout pitcher, and has 8 in 4.2 innings.

Series History

The Huskers hold a 3-0 record against the Jags, with the sweep by Nebraska in 2023 being their only previous meeting.

Nebraska Notes

Cayden Brumbaugh experienced an injury to his throwing arm in Charleston, and is expected to not play defense for the next 6 weeks. Nebraska will have to be a little creative with its lineups over the next couple weeks. Bolt specifically mentions Will Jesske potentially playing out of his natural C/3B positions since he has been hitting well.
Josh Overbeek could return as soon as next weekend against Nichols, after breaking a finger in Arlington, Texas.
Riley Silva has been a huge boost to the Nebraska offense. He has a .533 on-base percentage on the young season, leading the team. And since sliding into the 2 spot, Silva is batting .417. He also leads the Huskers in runs (13) and stolen bases (9).
The Huskers are ranked 6th in the nation with 13 sacrifice bunts, led by Silva’s 3. Quite the dichotomy from last year’s school record 97 home runs.
Nebraska also released their TV schedule for the rest of the year.

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Nebraska

Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

Published

9 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.

According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.

“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”

The senior ended his career as the 39th four-time state champion in Nebraska history, winning three at Wilber-Clatonia before joining the Jr. Jays.

Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.

“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.

“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.

Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.

“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.

Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.

“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”

The sophomore won his first state title after finishing as a runner-up at 126 pounds as a freshman.

Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.

“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”

The junior finished the season as a back-to-back state champion after winning a gold medal at 175 pounds as a sophomore.

Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.

“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.

Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.

“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.

“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.

—

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Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

Published

21 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.

Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.

ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year

“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”

Matt Williams(NE Chamber)

Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.

The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.

His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.

“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”

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Maryland men’s basketball silenced late by No. 12 Nebraska, 74-61

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Maryland men’s basketball silenced late by No. 12 Nebraska, 74-61

Maryland men’s basketball has found itself in plenty of close games over the past few weeks. Four of its last five were decided by seven points or less, and the Terps won three of them.

Head coach Buzz Williams had ostensibly found a winning recipe in crunch time. That is, until Wednesday’s clash with No. 12 Nebraska.

Down by five with just over six minutes to play, the key ingredients for a comeback were nowhere to be found. Andre Mills, who had been superb over Maryland’s past few matches, turned the ball over to star forward Pryce Sandfort on an errant pass. Just seconds later, Sandfort splashed a 3-pointer, and Pinnacle Bank Arena went wild.

That sequence was the cap of a 9-0 run and the middle of an 0-of-4 shooting stretch for Maryland. What was largely a competitive contest soon became lopsided, and the Terps fell, 74-61.

Williams used his coach’s challenge just a minute and a half into Wednesday’s contest. The reversed call didn’t result in points right away — the Terps turned it over the very next possession — but it undoubtedly sent a crystal clear, no-nonsense message to the sideline.

And Maryland’s defense was ready for the rowdy away game occasion. The Terps notched just five points in the opening five minutes — two coming on a thunderous Solomon Washington slam — but didn’t allow Nebraska on the scoresheet. In fact, Maryland turned the Cornhuskers over twice in that span, and Guillermo Del Pino rejected a Jamarques Lawrence layup.

Nebraska started the game 0-of-6 from the field before finding the net. Sandfort channeled his shooting prowess, sinking a 3-pointer to give the Cornhuskers their first advantage of the match six-and-a-half minutes in.

Forward Braden Frager was the true catalyst for Nebraska’s sudden surge, logging seven of the team’s first 10 points and operating well in transition. His quick-hit offense didn’t allow Maryland to set up its effective half-court defense.

The Terps’ offense remained relatively cold as the midway point of the half approached. They embarked on a 1-of-8 shooting stretch, with Nebraska consistently switching on Maryland’s perimeter looks and forcing Washington into some perimeter shots.

Interestingly enough, it was Washington and his frontcourt counterpart — Elijah Saunders — that offered the team a surge from beyond the arc. The two combined for four of the squad’s first five 3-pointers — two of Saunders’ makes came in the last five minutes of the half to keep Maryland within striking distance.

The Cornhuskers took a six point advantage into the halftime locker room, up 33-27.

Rienk Mast finally got into a bit of rhythm to open the second half, burying a 3-pointer in an attempt to keep the Terps at bay. But Maryland’s offense wasn’t rattled. It didn’t revert to the same isolation playbook that it has sometimes found itself running; it instead was gritty on the glass and earned multiple second-chance opportunities.

Nebraska was being worn down on defense, and its crowd was becoming less intense. Maryland just needed to establish some prolonged momentum.

But the game remained deadlocked for the ensuing minutes. Andre Mills began to display some of the athletic lane-driving traits he’s exhibited over the past 10 contests. But he also drilled a pair of long-range jumpers, quickly becoming the team’s leading second-half scorer.

As the clock ticked below 10 minutes left with the game decided by just a matter of points, the Terps’ offense hit a stagnant stretch. Coit took four consecutive shots — and made only one — while the team’s ball movement came to a screeching halt.

After Nebraska’s 9-0 run, things didn’t realign on the attack for Maryland. Coit continued to struggle, going 2-of-6 from three in the second half. Mills also missed back-to-back looks, and from there, the result was all but decided.

1. Elijah Saunders’ big day. With Mills struggling in the first half Wednesday, Saunders picked up some of the slack. The 40% 3-point shooter made half of his looks, resulting in a season-high five 3-pointers against the Cornhuskers. That comes just one game after he set his previous season-high of four 3-pointers against Washington.

2. Paint production erased. Maryland’s frontcourt did some damage Wednesday night, but much of it came from deep. The Terps finished with just 14 points in the paint compared to Nebraska’s 26. Despite both teams grabbing seven offensive rebounds, Maryland didn’t make much of the second chance opportunities in the restricted area.

3. More Del Pino minutes. After playing 27 minutes and securing the win with an alley-oop lob against Washington, Del Pino was on the court for 15 minutes Wednesday. Though he finished without any points, he seems to have earned Williams’ trust and continues to operate the floor well from a distribution perspective.

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