### Nebraska Baseball Earns Second Consecutive Big Ten Title, Heads to NCAA Regionals

The Nebraska baseball team had a challenging start as the No. 8 overall seed in the conference tournament in Omaha. Tasked with defeating the Big Ten's top pitchers, the Huskers showed resilience under head coach Will Bolt. Since late March, Nebraska had been on a winning streak in their weekend series, peaking at the right time despite early-season injuries and some midweek difficulties.

Their journey in the conference tournament began with a narrow escape against Michigan State. A dropped flyball, which could have sealed their fate, instead kept Nebraska's season alive. In a thrilling game against top-seed Oregon, the Huskers built an early 6-1 lead. Starter Jackson Brockett pitched six strong innings to secure a 7-3 victory, winning Pool A.

In the semifinals, Nebraska led Penn State 4-3 when Gabe Swansen hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning. The Huskers' bullpen, led by Drew Christo and Luke Broderick, combined for 5.2 innings of shutout baseball, resulting in a 6-3 win. The final challenge awaited them in the form of No. 13 UCLA and standout player Roch Cholowsky. However, Nebraska's Ty Horn delivered a career-best performance, pitching eight shutout innings and allowing just three hits. Casey Daiss sealed the 5-0 victory, earning Nebraska its second straight Big Ten Tournament title at Charles Schwab Field.

With the conference title in hand, Nebraska has achieved its preseason goal of reaching the NCAA Regional for a second consecutive year. This time, they aim to make a significant impact. The Huskers will travel East to compete in the Chapel Hill Regional against No. 5 overall seed North Carolina, Patriot League champions Holy Cross, and former conference rival Oklahoma.

The opening matchup in the regional will see North Carolina face Holy Cross at 11 a.m. CDT, followed by Nebraska taking on Oklahoma at 4 p.m. CDT. The tournament's format allows for potential rematches, adding an element of suspense and strategy to the competition. All Nebraska games will be broadcasted on the Huskers Radio Network.

Oklahoma's head coach, Skip Johnson, brings a wealth of experience into the regional. Under his leadership, the Sooners have a record of 264-173 over eight seasons. Notable players include Kyson Witherspoon, the only Sooner selected to the All-SEC First Team, who boasts an impressive 10-3 record and a 2.47 ERA. Oklahoma's offensive lineup is led by Easton Carmichael, who was named to the All-SEC Second Team.

North Carolina, under head coach Scott Forbes, enters the regional with a 42-12 record. The Tar Heels are equipped with the ACC Pitcher of the Year, Jake Knapp, and a lineup that includes multiple All-ACC selections. They aim to build on their recent success in the ACC Tournament and make a deep postseason run.

Holy Cross, led by Ed Kahovec, captured both the Patriot League regular-season and tournament titles. With standout players like CJ Egrie, the Patriot League Player of the Year, and Jaden Wywoda, the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, the Crusaders are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017.

The stage is set for an exciting Chapel Hill Regional, with Nebraska poised to showcase their talent and determination against some formidable opponents.