Sears logs ninth-straight quality start in Nebraska baseball's 6-3 win over Maryland

Will Bolt believes Friday’s win over Maryland played out like many of Nebraska baseball’s 23 other victories in 2024. It wasn’t perfect, but the Huskers made critical plays when it counted.

“There’s a lot of things we could do better, but it was competitive,” Bolt said. “The game of baseball is pretty simple. Can you keep the momentum in your dugout and can you answer when the other team scores? That’s the name of the game and we did that tonight. The other things we’d like to do better, they don’t get as competitive in those type of moments.”

That held true in the third when Josh Overbeek answered a Terrapin solo shot with a 449 foot, 111 mph blast of his own. When Maryland retook the lead in the fourth, the Huskers were ready to respond yet again.

The end result was a ninth-straight quality start from Brett Sears, a 3-for-3 night from Ben Columbus and a 6-3 victory. Here’s how Nebraska began its weekend in the win column and snapped a three-game losing streak to the Terrapins.

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Nebraska put a stranglehold on the series opener with a big-time response in the fourth.

Ben Columbus kept his hot streak rolling to leadoff the frame. The Nebraska catcher, who did not go yard once last season, crushed his third home run of the last six games over the wall in right. After a Overbeek walk and a Clay Bradford single, the table was set for Brumbaugh and the top of the lineup.

He promptly delivered a two-RBI double down the right-field line to push the Huskers ahead. Brumbaugh scored four pitches later when Evans drove of a double of his own up the left-field line to make it 6-3.

Just a half-inning earlier, two out double and a single with a fielding error put Maryland in front 3-2. One kicked off the shins of Cole Evans in left while the other was a high popup that hit off Cayden Brumbaugh’s glove as he attempted an over-the-shoulder basket catch in shallow right.

“We did a nice job of responding there in the third and fourth,” Bolt said. “I thought we had really good at-bats to setup innings. I think we were on base seven times to leadoff innings. Really good swings there.”

A three-run advantage was all Brett Sears needed.

The Huskers’ ace worked a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth and followed that with another zero in the sixth. Sears escaped a two-on, one-out jam by running down a Terrapin between second and third by himself and tallied a swinging strikeout for the final out. He also induced a weak groundball that turned into an inning-ending double play in the seventh.

“He’s one of the best,” Bolt said of Sears. “His numbers say that and the way he competes says that. We obviously feel very confident with him on the mound. That gives us a great shot just because he doesn’t beat himself. He fills his position well, he holds runners well. That was a huge momentum play tonight on the inside move.”

Sears seemed to improve as the game went on.

“I just know I’m getting close to the end of the game so I empty the tank, whatever I’ve got,” Sears said. “Sometimes my (velocity) can go back up when I get late. I just try to empty the tank and give it everything I’ve got because I know I’m getting late and it might be my last inning.”

Nebraska put the leadoff runner aboard in the home half of that inning and the eighth, but failed to score. Jalen Worthley and the Husker took matters into their own hands. The southpaw retired all six batters he faced, with the help of a dynamic catch by Garrett Anglim in foul ground, en route to his third save of the season.

Getting back in the swing of things

Nebraska needed a win like this one to stabilize things. Several of the night’s main contributors literally got back in the swing of things. Overbeek’s home run after exiting the lineup on Tuesday and recording two hits in his last 12 at-bats stands out as one.

Columbus represents the other. He has three home runs in his last five games along with a five-game hitting streak and multi-hit performances in four of those five contests. He finished Friday’s game 3-for-3 with a home run and a walk.

“He’s had some amazing at-bats,” Bolt said. “He’s setting up innings for us, he’s getting two-strike hits, he’s hitting for power and he’s playing a good first base over there.”

Sears and Columbus each echoed how important the victory was. The next step is carrying over Friday’s momentum to Saturday and Sunday. The Huskers haven’t won consecutive games since the Ohio State series two weeks ago.

“It’s just having that feeling back on a Friday night of finishing a game off and you wake up the next day on Saturday with a chance to win the series with another really good pitcher on the mound for us in McConnaughey,” Bolt said. “It’s having that killer instinct now. We had some guys who were on the barrel tonight in the lineup. We had guys come off the bench and contribute. That toughness factor, that’s what we have in order to win series and finish series.”

What’s next for Nebraska baseball?

Nebraska continues its series with the Terrapins on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. CT. Fans can listen to the game on the Huskers Radio Network or stream it on Big Ten Plus. Reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Week Mason McConnaughey (2.29 ERA) is set to start for the Huskers. Maryland has yet to announce its starting arm.