HUSKER BASEBALL RUN RULES OMAHA:
Nebraska continued its scoring momentum this week, routing Omaha 14-3 in seven innings on Wednesday night at Hawks Field.
In its last three games, the Husker offense has produced a pair of double-digit run totals and a total of 41 runs.
Nebraska (17-23) scored 14 runs on 10 hits, while the Mavericks (19-19) had three runs on six hits and two errors.
Nebraska welcomes Big Ten foe Iowa to Hawks Field this weekend with a three-game series on Friday-Sunday.
KEARNEY BASEBALL TAKES ON ELKHORN NORTH IN FINAL REGULAR SEASON HOME GAME:
The Kearney Baseball team still has some way to go before hitting the postseason as they wrap up the home regular reason stretch at Memorial Field tonight taking on Elkhorn North.
Pregame coverage begins today at 3:50 PM with first pitch from Memorial Field at 4 PM.
UNK MENS BASKETBALL ADDS NEW TRANSFERS:
Nebraska-Kearney head men’s basketball coach Kevin Lofton announced Wednesday that Jamison Gruber and Ryder Kirsch will hit the hardwood for the Lopers next season.
Gruber is a 6-1 point guard from Council Bluffs, Ia. (Abraham Lincoln H.S.) with Kirsch, a 6-7 forward from RMAC-member Black Hills State who has three years of eligibility remaining.
For the Lincoln Lynx this winter, Gruber averaged a team-best 19.1 points, 3.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
Kirsch, cousin to Lopers Klaire Kirsch (basketball) and Kassidy Kirsch (soccer), was part of a Final Four team in 2021-22. Named South Dakota’s Mr. Basketball in 2020, Kirsch appeared in 27 games this year with 10 starts.
AKANA LEAVES NEBRASKA, ENTERS PORTAL:
A consistent piece of the Nebraska volleyball team is on the move.
After two seasons in Lincoln, Keonilei Akana is entering the transfer portal. Akana made the announcement on Instagram Tuesday afternoon.
Akana played in all 53 matches during her two seasons as a Husker. During the national runner-up run in 2021, she led the team in aces and was third in digs. She had a career-high 24 digs in the NCAA title match against Wisconsin.
A defensive specialist, Akana was part of the “Legion of Doom,” as coach John Cook called it, with Kenzie Knuckles and libero Lexi Rodriguez. Akana is likely to compete to play libero at her next destination.
LOPER BACKERS EVENT HELD TONIGHT TO SUPPORT UNK FOOTBALL:
The 12th Annual Loper Football Backers dinner and scholarship fundraiser will be held tonight at the new Younes Conference Center North.
Since the event was first hosted in 2010, it has raised just under $2 million dollars for scholarships and other program needs. The Loper Football Backers is a community-led volunteer organization whose mission is to raise scholarship dollars for the UNK Football program.
A record-crowd of over 600 is expected to attend the roughly four-hour event
The list of auction items available is now live; fans can also register on the phone to start the bidding process.
UNK has already wrapped up their spring practices with their April 23 Spring Game.
FORMER A&M RUNNING BACK WILL NOT ATTEND NEBRASKA:
One of the additions Nebraska made through the transfer portal during the offseason isn’t going to work out.
Tuesday afternoon, former Texas A&M running back Deondre Jackson announced on Twitter that he “will not be attending Nebraska anymore.” No reason was provided behind his announcement. Jackson did thank Husker fans for welcoming him into the program.
After committing through the transfer portal, Jackson did not enroll at Nebraska for spring football but was expected to join the program for summer workouts. Now it appears he’ll be looking for another school.
Nebraska is still in solid shape in the running back room. The Huskers return Rahmir Johnson, Jaquez Yant, Markese Stepp and Gabe Ervin and added Anthony Grant via transfer.
NFL DRAFT HOLDS FIRST ROUND TODAY:
The 2022 NFL Draft begins tonight running through Saturday as former college stars look to achieve their dreams in becoming professional football players on the highest playing field.
Plenty of notable players for Nebraska fans could see their names called on Friday and Saturday in post-first round selections, as Nebraska has seven prospects available: Cam Taylor-Britt, Cam Jurgens, JoJo Domann, Samori Toure, Austin Allen, Damion Daniels, and Ben Stille.
UNK Loper Corey Hoelck could also see his name called late in the draft process, but will likely be picked up to an NFL camp through the undrafted free agent portal.
The first round selections begin tonight at 7 PM.
NBA PLAYOFFS SCORES:
WEDNESDAY RESULTS:
MILWAUKEE BUCKS 116 – 100 Chicago Bulls (MIL 4-1)
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 102 – 98 Denver Nuggets (GSW 4-1)
THURSDAY SCHEDULE:
Philadelphia 76ers @ Toronto Raptors – 6 PM (PHI 3-2)
Phoenix Suns @ New Orleans Pelicans – 6:30 PM (PHX 3-2)
Dallas Mavericks @ Utah Jazz – 9 PM (DAL 3-2)
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- BOYS GOLF: @ Capitol City Golf Invite @ Holmes Golf Course – 9 AM
- T&F: @ Omaha Benson – 3 PM
- BASEBALL: v. Elkhorn North – 4 PM @ Memorial Field
- Pregame on KGFW at 3:50 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- GIRLS TENNIS: @ Hastings Invite – 10 AM
- BASEBALL: v. Elkhorn North – 4 PM @ Memorial Field
- Pregame on KGFW at 3:50 PM
- UNK:
- FOOTBALL: Loper Backer Banquet @ Younes Conference Center
- M/W T&F: @ Drake Relays (Des Moines, IA)
- M/W T&F: @ Prairie Wolf Invite, Lincoln – 12 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W T&F: @ Prairie Wolf Invite, Lincoln – 12 PM
- M/W T&F: @ Drake Relays (Des Moines, IA)
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- M/W T&F: @ Drake Relays (Des Moines, IA)
- M/W T&F: @ Kip Janvrin Open, Indianola, IA
- WOMENS TENNIS: v. NW Missouri State (MIAA Tourney) – 10 AM
- SOFTBALL: @ Northeastern State – 1 PM, 3 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W T&F: @ Prairie Wolf Invite, Lincoln – 12 PM
- M/W T&F: @ Drake Relays (Des Moines, IA)
- BASEBALL: @ Morningside – 4 PM, 6 PM
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- GIRLS SOCCER: District Soccer Tournament
- BOYS SOCCER: District Soccer Tournament
- GIRLS TENNIS: @ Omaha Koch Family Tennis Center Invite – 8:30 AM
- BASEBALL: @ Lincoln SW – 2 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- GIRLS SOCCER: Sub-Districts TBA
- BOYS SOCCER: Sub-Districts TBA
- T&F: @ Centennial Conference @ Columbus – 10 AM
- BASEBALL: @ Lincoln SW – 2 PM
- UNK:
- SOFTBALL: @ Rogers State – 12 PM, 2 PM
- WOMENS SOCCER: @ Iowa Western CC, Council Bluffs, IA
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W T&F: @ Drake Relays (Des Moines, IA)
- BASEBALL: @ Morningside – 1 PM, 3 PM
- SOFTBALL: @ Morningside – 1 PM, 3 PM
