Thursday Morning Sports – Kearney Baseball Wraps Up HAC Tournament, Huskers Start Series with BYU, Rogers Named Big Ten T&F Athlete of the Week, Local Sports Schedule

KEARNEY BASEBALL FINISHES AS HAC TOURNAMENT RUNNER-UP:

The Kearney High baseball team were powered by big bats in the semifinal matchup of the HAC Tournament Wednesday night in Lincoln to power over Lincoln Southeast in a 12-10 offensive slugfest victory, pushing the Bearcats into the championship round against Lincoln Southwest. 

The Silverhawks had outlasted the Lincoln East Spartans 10-9 in a nine-inning affair that ran over three hours. 

As Kearney and Lincoln Southwest began play well past 9 PM Wednesday night, the Bearcats fell behind and could not keep pace with the Silverhawks, ending as runner-up in the HAC Tournament and falling 6-3. 

The Bearcats have the weekend off until Monday, when Kearney will return to Memorial Field to take on Millard North at 1 PM. 

HUSKER BASEBALL PREPARES FOR BYU IN FOUR GAME SERIES:

Nebraska welcomes BYU to Lincoln for a four-game series on Thursday-Saturday at Hawks Field.

First pitch between the Huskers and Cougars is set for 6:35 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday with a seven-inning game at 2:05 p.m., followed by a nine-inning game. First pitch in Saturday’s series finale is scheduled for 11:05 a.m.

BYU enters this weekend’s series with a 17-12 overall record and 6-6 mark in WCC play after sweeping Santa Clara last weekend in Provo, Utah.

The Huskers and Cougars have met eight times on the diamond, with Nebraska holding an 5-3 advantage in the all-time series.

Nebraska and BYU last met in 2015 with a three-game series in Peoria, Ariz

HUSKER T&F ROGERS NAMED BIG TEN ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:

For the second week in a row, Nebraska freshman high jumper Jenna Rogers has been named Big Ten Women’s Field Athlete of the Week. 

Rogers set a new high jump personal best of 6-1 1/4 (1.86m) to win the John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., last weekend. Her mark tied her for fourth in NU outdoor history, fourth nationally this season, and extended her Big Ten leading mark

Rogers captured her third career Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week honor. The Rutherford, N.J., native received the award last week as well after a then-personal best 6-0 1/2 (1.84m) at the Florida Relays. 

NBA PLAY-IN GAMES SET UP FRIDAY DOUBLEHEADER:

The Atlanta Hawks looked like a team that could once again contend in the Eastern Conference with a 132-103 rout of the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday night. The Hawks must win the next game against Cleveland to cement the No. 8 seed in the East, as the winner then takes on top-seeded Miami. 

Meanwhile CJ McCollum had New Orleans going early and the Pelicans now look to send both Los Angeles franchises’ out of playoff contention this year. 

McCollum had 27 of his 32 points in the first half while the young Pelicans downed San Antonio 113-103. New Orleans now faces the Clippers on Friday night for the eighth playoff seed in the Western Conference. 

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BASEBALL: HAC Tournament
    • #2 KHS v. #3 Lincoln Southeast 
      • KHS 12-10
    • #2 KHS v. #5 Lincoln SW – HAC Championship
      • LSW 6-3
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BASEBALL: HAC Tournament
    • #2 KHS v. #3 Lincoln Southeast 
      • KHS 12-10
    • #2 KHS v. #5 Lincoln SW – HAC Championship
      • LSW 6-3

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • GIRLS TENNIS: Kearney Invite – 9:30 AM
  • BOYS GOLF: @ Lochland Country Club – 10 AM 
  • T&F: @ Omaha Central Invite – 4 PM
  • GIRLS SOCCER: @ Norfolk – 5 PM
  • BOYS SOCCER: v. Norfolk – 7 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • T&F: @ Gothenburg Invite – 2:30 PM
• UNK:
  • MENS TRACK: @ Mt. Sac Relays – @ Walnut, CA
  • WOMENS TENNIS: @ Northeastern State – 3 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • BASEBALL: v. Midland University (Doubleheader) – 3 PM, 5 PM

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • MENS TRACK: @ Bryan Clay Invite @ Azusa, CA
  • WOMENS TENNIS: @ Central Oklahoma – 11 AM
  • M/W T&F: v. Loper Invite – 11 AM, 3 PM
  • SOFTBALL: v. Lincoln (Doubleheader) @ Patriot Park – 2 PM, 4 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BOYS SOCCER: v. Omaha Central – 1:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • SOFTBALL: v. Central Missouri (Doubleheader) @ Patriot Park – 12 PM, 2 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: @ UNK Invite
  • BASEBALL: v. Mount Marty University (Doubleheader) – 4 PM, 6 PM
  • MENS/WOMENS TENNIS: @ Midland University – 11 AM