Friday Afternoon Sports – Husker Football Returns in Altered Format Spring Game, Nebraska Baseball Hosts Rutgers, Husker Softball Schedule Adjusted at Michigan State, Storm Battle Sioux City, Local Sports Schedule

HUSKER FOOTBALL RETURNS FOR SPRING GAME IN ALTERED FORMAT:

For the first time in the Scott Frost era, Nebraska will use a spring game format that pits the offense against the defense for the annual spring game.

A NU spokesman confirmed Friday morning what Frost hinted at Monday – that, because of injuries and depth issues at a few positions, the Huskers will not assign equal numbers of offensive and defensive players to two teams, but simply have the offense face the defense. It’s possible Nebraska uses some sort of scoring system that rewards the defense points for achievements, similar to 2014 and 2016, when coaches Bo Pelini and Mike Riley, respectively, used the format. 

Just like 2014 and 2016, the offense will be the Red team, and the defense will be the White team.

NEBRASKA BASEBALL PREPARES FOR RUTGERS:

Nebraska hosts Rutgers in a three-game series this weekend at Hawks Field on Friday-Sunday, April 8-10.

First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:35 p.m, while Saturday is set to start at 3:17 p.m. The Huskers and Scarlet Knights wrap up the series on Sunday at 12:05 p.m.

Fans can listen to the contests on KGFW with pregame beginning a half-hour prior to first pitch. 

On Wednesday, Nebraska scored four runs in the eighth and loaded the bases in the ninth but couldn’t plate the tying run in a 6-5 loss at Omaha.

Rutgers enters the weekend with a 22-6 overall record and 5-1 mark in Big Ten play after a 9-4 win vs. Monmouth on Tuesday night.

HUSKER SOFTBALL HEADS TO EAST LANSING FOR WEEKEND WITH SPARTY:

The Nebraska softball team travels to East Lansing, Mich., to take on Michigan State in a three-game series, April 9-10

Nebraska has won its last 10 games with an offense that leads the Big Ten in numerous categories including runs, hits, home runs, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage, walks and on-base percentage. Sophomore Billie Andrews has been a force on offense, leading the conference in home runs, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage and walks.

The Huskers (5-0) are the only undefeated team in conference play in the Big Ten. 

Times have been adjusted due to inclement weather, as the Huskers will play Game One on Saturday at 1 PM. On Sunday, Nebraska will play a doubleheader with game one starting at 11:30 AM and game two to follow around 1:30 PM. 

STORM SET TO TAKE ON THREE-GAME WEEKEND WITH SIOUX CITY:

The Tri-City Storm returns to the Viaero Center for a three-game weekend against the Sioux City Musketeers. The series will feature the top two teams in the USHL’s Western Conference standings. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 PM on Friday night.

Friday’s home game will feature a $5 Kids’ Friday promotion. Kids’ tickets may be purchased for only $5 with the purchase of an adult ticket. Saturday’s game is “Kearney Community Night”, “North Platte Night”, and “UNK Night”.

Tri-City will battle Sioux City with the hopes of clinching the third Anderson Cup Championship in organizational history. The Storm is now six points away from capturing the regular season title, and first overall seed in the 2022 Clark Cup Playoffs.

CHANGES COMING TO NEBRASKA BASEBALL:

The NSAA Board of Directors held their scheduled meeting today and held a variety of points that will bring changes to the future of Nebraska High School Baseball. 

The Board unanimously approved the addition of a third class. The third class has yet to be renamed, but Class B will now be split evenly beginning in 2023. Class A remains unchanged. 

A re-format to state baseball was also unanimously approved. The current format will be updated to two four-team, double-elimination brackets with the bracket winners meeting in a single game final.

INSTANT REPLAY ADDED TO STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT:

The NSAA Board of Directors continued down their agenda items during their Thursday meeting, approving by a 7-1 vote to allow limited instant replay for any state tournament basketball game where a broadcast replay or feed is available. These reviews would be primarily for review of end-of-game or overtime shots. 

NSAA C-1 & C-2 FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FORMAT CHANGE:

During the NSAA Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, the NSAA Board approved by a vote of 7-1 to play Class C-1 and C-2 football playoff games at home sites through the semifinals. 

Previously, a top seed would not always be given a home site if their upcoming opponent had played a road contest and won. 

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • GIRLS TENNIS: @ Omaha Varsity Invite @ Koch Tennis Center
    • RESCHEDULED to 4/11
  • BOYS GOLF: Meadowlark Invite – 9:30 AM
  • T&F: Kearney Invite @ Kearney High School – 12:30 PM
  • BOYS SOCCER: @ Fremont – 4 PM
    • RESCHEDULED from 4/7
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • T&F: @ Broken Bow – 1:30 PM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ K.t. Woodman Classic @ Wichita, KS
  • SOFTBALL: v. Emporia State (Doubleheader) – 2 PM, 4 PM @ Patriot Park
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: @ Concordia Outdoor Invite
  • SOFTBALL: v. Dordt (Doubleheader) – 4 PM, 6 PM

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BASEBALL: @ Lincoln Double Dual – 10 AM
    • v. Lincoln High – 10 AM
    • v.  North Star – 1 PM
  • BOYS SOCCER: @ Lincoln Southwest – 11 AM
  • GIRLS SOCCER: v. Lincoln Southwest @ Kearney High School – 12 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BASEBALL: @ Lincoln Double Dual
  • GIRLS TENNIS: @ Ralston Invite – 9 AM
  • GIRLS SOCCER: v. Omaha Mercy – 12 PM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ K.T. Woodman Classic @ Wichita, KS
  • WOMENS TENNIS: v. Newman – 11 AM
  • SOFTBALL: v. Washburn (Doubleheader) – 12 PM, 2 PM @ Patriot Park
  • VOLLEYBALL: v. Colorado Mines – 2 PM @ Ogallala High School
  • VOLLEYBALL: v. Northeastern J.C. – 5 PM @ Ogallala High School
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: @ Concordia Outdoor Invite
  • BASEBALL: v. Dakota Wesleyan (Doubleheader) – 1 PM, 4 PM
  • SOFTBALL – v. Northwestern College (Doubleheader) – 1 PM, 3 PM