Saturday Morning Sports – Nebraska Baseball Wins Pitching Duel, Storm Drop Road Decision, Memorial Stadium Updates Approved, HAC Baseball Bracket Announced, Local Sports Schedules

NEBRASKA BASEBALL WINS PITCHING DUEL BEHIND OLSON:

Emmett Olson carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning, and Brice Matthews delivered the go-ahead two-run homer in the 10th, as the Huskers won 3-1 in 10 innings at Michigan on Friday.

Nebraska (17-9-1, 3-1 Big Ten) totaled three runs on eight hits, while the Wolverines (16-13, 5-2 Big Ten) had one run on two hits.

Olson went back-and-forth with Michigan’s Connor O’Halloran in a pitcher’s duel on Friday. Olson’s final line included one run on two hits, while recording eight strikeouts and three walks in 7.2 innings of work. The Des Plaines, Ill., native lost the no-hitter in the bottom of the seventh after allowing a double to the wall in left.

Nebraska and Michigan continue the series tomorrow afternoon at Ray Fisher Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. CT. KGFW’s pregame begins at 12:30 PM.

STORM DROP ROAD DECISION TO SIOUX CITY:

The Tri-City Storm dropped a 6-2 road decision to the Sioux City Musketeers Friday night at the Tyson Events Center. 

Evan Werner and Alex Bump each netted a goal for the Storm in the loss. 

Tri-City will return to action tomorrow night with a road game against the Sioux Falls Stampede. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:05pm CT.

NEBRASKA REGENTS APPROVE UPDATES TO MEMORIAL STADIUM:

The Nebraska Board of Regents approved an initial contract on Friday for the hotly anticipated Memorial Stadium renovation.

Engineering company HDR will conduct conceptual planning and design for a flat fee of $1.1 million.

The project as a whole is expected to cost between $200 million and $700 million.

The massive project comes as the venue is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Officials say they want to make the stadium more fan-friendly for decades to come. Changes expected include new entrances and exits, concessions updates, and security updates. 

HAC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT BRACKETS SET:

The Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament brackets have been released.

The Kearney Bearcats (4-8) are placed as the eighth seed and face ninth seeded Norfolk (5-5) on Tuesday, April 11 at 12 PM at Den Hartog Field in Lincoln

The winner of the Bearcat/Panther matchup will face top-seeded Lincoln East at 3 PM at the same location.

More details can be found at KGFW.com.

THREE BEARCAT HOOPERS NAMED TO NEBRASKA ALL-STAR GAME:

Two Kearney Girls Basketball players and one Boys Basketball star were named to the 2023 Nebraska Coaches’ Association All-Star game set for Monday, July 24 at Lincoln North Star High School. 

Kearney’s Tatum Rusher and Maddy Province were named to the Girls “Blue” Team, led by head coach Noah Malsby of Ravenna and assisted by Clayton Carlton of Yutan. 

Rusher is the career leader in made three pointers in Bearcat history and led the team in scoring the past two seasons, while Province was a major force leading the team in assists, steals, and blocks this season. Both were multiple year starters. 

Jack Dahlgren will represent the Bearcats on the “Blue” Team led by Head Coach Kelan Buhr of Doniphan-Trumbull and assisted by Lucas Albrecht of Wilber-Clatonia. Dahlgren ended his Bearcat career No. 12 all-time in Kearney Boys Basketball scoring with 774 career points. 

Both boys and girls contests will be held on Monday, July 24. 

HUSKER SOFTBALL SHUTOUT TERRAPINS IN SERIES OPENER:

The Nebraska softball team (26-12, 6-3 Big Ten) shut out Maryland in the series opener on Friday night in College Park. The Huskers held the Terrapins (26-11, 3-6 Big Ten) scoreless for only the second time this season as the Big Red claimed the 3-0 victory. 

Katelyn Caneda got the Huskers on board with an RBI double in the first inning while Brooke Andrews recorded her sixth home run in 10 games with a two-run shot in the fourth. Billie Andrews, Ava Bredwell and Abbie Squier all added singles to lead the NU offense. 

The Huskers return to action Saturday, April 8, for game two of a three-game series at Maryland. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Tennis: @ Omaha Westside Invite @ Koch Family Tennis Center
    • KHS = 12th/22 teams
  • Girls Soccer: @ Lincoln High @ Beechner Athletic Complex
    • KHS 2-0 LHS
• UNK:
  • Women’s Soccer: v. Iowa Western C.C. @ Foster Field
    • UNK 3-0 IWCC
  • Softball: @ Emporia State
    • ESU 7-2 UNK
  • Softball: @ Emporia State
    • ESU 2-1 UNK

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Baseball: @ Double Dual @ Lincoln’s Densmore Fields
    • GAME 1 v. Lincoln High – 10 AM
    • GAME 2 v. Lincoln North Star – 1 PM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ Jo Meaker Classic @ Canyon, TX – 12:30 PM
  • M/W T&F: @ K.T. Woodman Classic @ Wichita, KS – 12 PM
  • Women’s Tennis: @ Missouri Western
  • Softball: @ Washburn – 1 PM
  • Softball: @ Washburn – 3 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE: 
  • M/W T&F: @ K.T. Woodman Classic @ Wichita, KS – 12 PM
  • Baseball: v. Morningside @ Duncan Field – 1 PM
  • Softball: v. Mount Marty – 1 PM
  • Softball: v. Mount Marty – 3 PM
  • Baseball: v. Morningside @ Duncan Field – 4 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Baseball @ Michigan (12:30 PM – 5 PM)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • N/a