Wednesday Afternoon Sports – Nebraska/Creighton Softball Canceled, Husker/Bluejays Baseball Suspended, Big Red Baseball’s Matthews on Award Watch List, Loper Track Schedule Pushed Back, Local Sports Schedules

NEBRASKA SOFTBALL AND CREIGHTON CANCELED:

Due to the potential of severe weather, tonight’s Nebraska-Creighton softball game has been canceled. Forecasts in the Lincoln area call for scattered thunderstorms throughout the evening, with the possibility of damaging winds, rain and hail.

The game will not be rescheduled. Nebraska faces Wisconsin for a weekend series beginning on Friday at Haymarket Park.

HUSKER BASEBALL SUSPENDED IN SEVENTH INNING:

After trailing for a majority of the game, Nebraska seemed moments away from grabbing control of the game in the seventh inning with bases loaded and no one out, until the weather put off NU’s golden opportunity.

Lightning in the seventh inning forced the suspension of Nebraska’s baseball game against Creighton at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.

The game will resume at a later date to be determined.

The contest will resume tied at four in the bottom of the seventh inning with no outs. Gabe Swansen will be up to bat with Max Anderson on third base, Garrett Anglim on second and Charlie Fischer on first.

NEBRASKA BASEBALL’S MATTHEWS ADDED TO AWARD WATCH LIST:

Junior Brice Matthews was named to the 2023 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List announced on Wednesday morning.

The award honors the nation’s top shortstop and will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this year. It is named for Texas Tech shortstop Brooks Wallace, who played for the Red Raiders from 1977 to 1980.

Matthews is hitting .409 with nine doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 53 RBI and 41 runs scored this season. The junior has reached base in all 33 games this season and ranks 10th nationally in RBI and 13th with a .819 slugging percentage.

The Humble, Texas, native is one of five players in the country hitting above .400 with at least 13 home runs and 50 RBI.

LOPER TRACK PUSHED BACK TO THURSDAY/SUNDAY FORMAT:

The Nebraska-Kearney track and field team has seen its weekend schedule change due to impending weather in Crete.

The annual Jim Dutcher Memorial, hosted by Doane, was set for Friday and Saturday. It’ll now be held on Sunday with the exception of the men’s and women’s discus which will be thrown on Thursday afternoon. The John Green Combined Events meet (heptathlon & decathlon) will remain on Thursday and Friday.

The action on Sunday starts at 11 a.m.

HUSKER WOMEN’S HOOPS ADDS TRANSFER FROM MONTANA STATE:

The Nebraska women’s basketball team will get a boost in the backcourt for 2023-24 with the addition of graduate transfer Darian White, Husker Head Coach Amy Williams announced

White, a four-year starter at Montana State, became the first player in Big Sky Conference history to total more than 1,700 points, 600 rebounds, 400 assists and 200 steals in a career. A unanimous first-team All-Big Sky Conference selection for the third consecutive season in 2022-23, the 5-6 guard closed her Bobcat career at No. 2 on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,716 points in 120 career starts.

White started all 31 games as a senior at Montana State in 2022-23, averaging team bests of 14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists while adding 1.1 steals per game.

HUSKER FOOTBALL SPRING PRACTICE COMMENTS:

SATTERFIELD – THOMPSON STILL GRINDING:

Nebraska Offensive Coordinator Marcus Satterfield gave his spring evaluation of incumbent quarterback Casey Thompson…

The Huskers have three starters on the roster who have started games over the past two seasons for the Big Red, not including transfer Jeff Sims who arrives with ACC starting experience. 

SATTERFIELD – QUARTERBACKS NEEDED TO SEE LIVE REPS:

Huskers Football Offensive Coordinator Marcus Satterfield spoke after Tuesday’s practice and said he was happy to have his quarterbacks take a few hits during this spring’s scrimmages…

Nebraska has not had a quarterback not miss a game in a season since Tommy Armstrong. 

SATTERFIELD – RAIOLA HAS HIGH STANDARDS FOR O-LINE:

Marcus Satterfield, Nebraska’s new offensive coordinator, was asked after Tuesday’s practice his evaluation about Donovon Raiola’s offensive line and what he brings from the coaching staff…

Nebraska’s offensive line currently only has twelve rostered scholarship players. 

RAIOLA – WORKING O-LINE TO CREATE DEPTH:

Nebraska’s offensive line coach Donovan Raiola addressed the media on Tuesday and said his goal this spring is to continue to build depth…

The Huskers have not listed any offensive lineman as potential starters heading into this weekend’s Red-White Spring game.

RAIOLA – BEN SCOTT CONTINUES TO GET HEALTHY:

Transfer center Ben Scott has been missing in practices so far this spring, as Donovan Raiola spoke about the absence after Tuesday’s practice…

Nebraska is also nursing the health of tackle Teddy Prochazka after two seasons of significant knee injuries. 

RAIOLA – IMPRESSED BY LINEMEN CONDITIONING:

Offensive Line coach for the Huskers Donovan Raiola said he’s been very satisfied with the line’s conditioning so far this spring…

The new conditioning staff has made significant strides providing new recovery methods for all athletes, as Head Coach Matt Rhule has made an emphasis on that health aspect early in his tenure. 

LOPER WOMEN’S GOLF ENDS TIED FOR THIRD AT WILDCAT CLASSIC:

The Nebraska-Kearney women’s golf team shot the seventh lowest 36-hole score (611) in school-history to tie for third place at the annual Wildcat Classic Tuesday in Wayne.

UNK got off to a bit of a slow start again but worked its way up the leaderboard thanks to 18-hole totals of 312 and 299. The day two tally is the 11th sub-300 round in school-history with the final score the third time this academic year UNK has shot under 612.

Puerto Rico super Faviola Gonzalez finished fourth with a 4-over par 148 (74-74) to lead UNK.

The 2023 MIAA Championships begins Monday at Eagle Creek G.C. in Joplin, Mo.

HAMLIN CLEARED FOR PLAY FOUR MONTHS AFTER CARDIAC ARREST:

Having spent the past several months meeting President Joe Biden, raising millions of dollars for his charitable foundation and promoting the benefits of CPR training, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin can now focus on the next big objective in his life: returning to football

General manager Brandon Beane announced earlier in the day that Hamlin was medically cleared to return to football after the 25-year-old met with a third and final specialist on Friday. All three agreed Hamlin could resume playing without any fear of setbacks or complications.

Hamlin said the specialists agreed his heart stopped as a result of commotio cordis, which is a direct blow at a specific point in a heartbeat that causes cardiac arrest.

NBA PLAYOFFS SCORES/SCHEDULES:

TUESDAY SCHEDULE:

WESTERN CONFERENCE;

Phoenix Suns 123-109 Los Angeles Clippers (Tied 1-1)

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

Boston Celtics 119-106 Atlanta Hawks (BOS 2-0)

Cleveland Cavaliers 107-90 New York Knicks (Tied 1-1)

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE:

WESTERN CONFERENCE;

Los Angeles Lakers @ Memphis Grizzlies (LAL 1-0) – 6:30 PM

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Denver Nuggets (DEN 1-0) – 9 PM

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

Miami Heat @ Milwaukee Bucks (MIA 1-0) – 8 PM

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Soccer: HAC TOURNAMENT – Silver Bracket
    • KHS v. Lincoln Pius X @ Kearney High School
      • KHS 1-0 LPX
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys Soccer: @ Lexington 
    • LHS 7-0 KCHS
  • Girls Soccer: @ Lexington 
    • KCHS 3-2 LHS (OT)

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Soccer: HAC TOURNAMENT – Silver Bracket
    • KHS v. Lincoln Southeast @ Kearney High School – 7:30 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • Women’s Tennis: v. Midland – 12 PM
  • Men’s Tennis: v. Midland – 2:30 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Golf: @ Columbus Invite – 10 AM
  • Girls Tennis: v. Hastings Dual @ Harmon Park – 4 PM
  • Boys Soccer: HAC TOURNAMENT – Silver Bracket
    • KHS v. Grand Island @ Kearney High School – 7:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys Golf: @ Gibbon Invite – 1 PM
  • Girls Tennis: @ Hershey – 3 PM
  • Girls Soccer: v. Lakeview – 5 PM
  • Boys Soccer: v. Lakeview – 5 PM
• UNK:
  • Football: Loper Backers Banquet @ Younes Conference Center North – 5:30 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Track & Field: @ Lexington Invite – 12 PM
  • Girls Soccer: v. Columbus @ Kearney High School – 5:45 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at 5:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Track & Field: @ Lexington Invite – 12 PM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ Jim Dutcher Memorial @ Crete, NE – 2 PM
  • Softball: @ Central Oklahoma @ Edmond, OK – 2 PM
  • Women’s Tennis: v. Missouri Western @ Edmond, OK – 4 PM
  • Softball: @ Central Oklahoma @ Edmond, OK – 4 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: @ Jim Dutcher Memorial @ Crete, NE – 2 PM
  • Softball: v. Dakota Wesleyan – 4 PM
  • Softball: v. Dakota Wesleyan – 6 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney Girls Soccer v. Columbus (5:30 PM – 7:30 PM)
  • Nebraska Baseball @ Iowa (7:30 PM – 10:15 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Baseball: v. Norfolk/Omaha South Triangular @ Memorial Field
    • GAME 1: v. Omaha South – 10 AM
    • GAME 2: v. Norfolk – 2 PM
  • Boys Soccer: v. Columbus @ Columbus High School – 12:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Soccer: @ Scottsbluff – 11 AM
  • Boys Soccer: @ Scottsbluff – 11 AM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ Jim Dutcher Memorial @ Crete, NE – 2 PM
  • Volleyball: v. McCook C.C. @ Health & Sports Center – 12 PM
  • Football: Spring Game @ Ron & Carol Cope Stadium – 1 PM
  • Softball: @ Newman @ Wichita, KS – 1 PM
  • Volleyball: v. Labette C.C. (KS) @ Health & Sports Center – 1:30 PM
  • Softball: @ Newman @ Wichita, KS – 2 PM
  • Volleyball: v. UNK Legends Blue @ Health & Sports Center – 3 PM
  • Volleyball: v. Northeastern J.C. @ Health & Sports Center – 3:45 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE: 
  • M/W T&F: @ Jim Dutcher Memorial @ Crete, NE – 2 PM
  • Softball: v. Jamestown – 12 PM
  • Women’s Tennis: @ Morningside – 12 PM
  • Men’s Tennis: @ Morningside – 12:30 PM
  • Baseball: @ Dakota Wesleyan @ Mitchell, SD – 1 PM
  • Softball: v. Jamestown – 2 PM
  • Baseball: @ Dakota Wesleyan @ Mitchell, SD – 4 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Football Spring Game (11 AM – 4 PM)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • Baseball: @ Dakota Wesleyan @ Mitchell, SD – 12 PM
  • Baseball: @ Dakota Wesleyan @ Mitchell, SD – 3 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Baseball @ Iowa (12:30 PM – 5 PM)