Katskee’s 10 K’s, 6-Run First Lead Nebraska Past Omaha in Home Opener
The Nebraska Cornhuskers wasted no time building an early cushion and relied on strong pitching down the stretch to secure an 8-5 victory over the Omaha Mavericks in a high-octane game of baseball on Tuesday afternoon at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.
The Big Reds used a dominant six-run outburst in the first innings to set the tone and control the game early, and then held off a late push from the Mavericks to improve their record to 6-5 on the season. Though Omaha threatened to spoil the mood in the final innings, they ultimately failed to overcome Nebraska’s explosive start.
Cole Kitchens and Dylan Carey Lead Husker Offense in Win Over Omaha
The afternoon didn’t exactly go to plan for the Huskers. After starter Cooper Katskee retired the first two batters, Omaha’s Jackson Trout kept the inning alive with a single. Moments later, Tyler Bishop launched a two-run home run to right-center field, giving the Mavericks a quick 2-0 lead.
However, Nebraska’s response was both immediate and overwhelming. At the bottom of the first, the Big Red sent 10 batters to the plate, capitalizing on walks to Mac Moyer and Josh Overbeek. Dylan Carey ignited the rally with an RBI double down the right field line, followed by a Case Sanderson RBI groundout that tied the game.
The definitive blow came from hitter Cole Kitchens, who hammered a two-run home run to right field on the very first pitch he saw, surging Nebraska ahead 4-2. The Huskers added two more in the frame when Moyer returned to the plate to slap a two-RBI single through the left side, capping a six-run turnaround that completely shifted the game’s momentum.
Cooper Katskee Strikes Out Ten in Dominant Pitching Performance Against Omaha Mavericks
After a rocky opening frame, Cooper Katskee settled into a dominant groove. The right-hander, who was recently named the reigning MAC Pitcher of the Year before transferring to Lincoln, showed exactly why he is a cornerstone of the rotation. Katskee retired 12 of the next 13 batters he faced, only allowing a single runner to reach on an error between the second and fifth innings.
Katskee finished the day with 6 innings pitched, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits while racking up a career-high 10 strikeouts. This performance earned him his first win in a Nebraska shirt.
The Cornhuskers extended their lead in the middle innings with RBI contributions from Kitchens – who finished the day 2-for-4 with three RBIs – and Carey, whose 3-for-5 performance led the team in hits. By the end of the third inning, Nebraska held a commanding 8-2 lead.
Omaha wasn’t going down without a fight. They chipped away single runs in the sixth, seventh, and ninth innings. The tension peaked in the top of the eighth when Ryan Harrahill inherited a bases-loaded jam but managed to escape unscathed. Closer J’Shawn Unger was called upon for the final 1.1 innings, navigating a two-walk ninth inning to secure his first save of the season and the 8-5 win.
The victory marks a successful start to a busy week for the Huskers. They return to Hawks Field today for a 1:30 p.m. matchup against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, with freshman Pryce Bender expected to take the mound. As Nebraska continues its homestand, the focus remains on building consistency. While they left 12 runners on base on Tuesday, the explosive potential shown in that six-run first inning suggests that when the Husker offense clicks, they are a formidable force in the Big Ten.
