Monday Afternoon Sports – Big Red Volleyball Spring Match Sells Out, Husker Baseball and Softball Take Road Weekend Series, Loper Athletics Weekend Recap, Local Sports Schedules

BIG RED SPRING MATCH SELLS OUT IN LESS THAN AN HOUR:

Nebraska’s spring game match with Wichita State sold out in 38 minutes on Sunday night and standing room only tickets were also sold out within an hour. 

Central City will host the match at the new Central City Dome on April 29th at 2pm. 

The tickets were only on sale in-person as some fans arrived in Central City at 9 PM Sunday to get in line. 

The Bison Activity Dome, with a capacity of 2,098, opened in December 2022 and is home to Central City High School athletics. This will be the Huskers’ first trip to Central City and will be the eighth different town in Nebraska to host the spring volleyball match.

HUSKER BASEBALL CLAIMS SERIES IN SUNDAY WIN AT ANN ARBOR:

Fueled by seven extra-base hits and three home runs, Nebraska cruised past Michigan to clinch the weekend series with an 11-3 win on Sunday afternoon in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Nebraska (18-10-1, 4-2 Big Ten) totaled 11 runs on 12 hits, while Michigan (17-14, 6-3 Big Ten) tallied three runs on 11 hits and two errors.

Will Walsh had the no-decision in the start after allowing three runs on seven hits in 3.0 innings. Michael Garza replaced Walsh on the mound and improved to 2-3 on the season. 

The Incarnate Word transfer pitched four scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out four Wolverines. Jake Bunz struck out four Wolverines and gave up one hit in the final two innings.

Nebraska begins a five-game homestand with a midweek matchup against Omaha on Tuesday, April 11 at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park. Tuesday night’s game will be broadcast live on Nebraska Public Media, with first pitch scheduled for 6:02 p.m.

FORMER HUSKER PENSICK PASSES IN CAR CRASH:

Former Husker offensive lineman Cole Pensick died early Saturday in a one-vehicle crash about 14 miles southwest of Columbus, Nebraska.

The 32-year-old from Columbus was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a statement from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The crash occurred about 6:45 a.m. at 141st and Q Roads.

Pensick was a two-time All-Nebraska selection (2007, 2008) at Lincoln Northeast before committing to NU in January 2009. As a senior in 2013, he was a key member of the offensive line that has helped the Huskers become one of the Big Ten’s top rushing teams.

Pensick played all 13 games and started 12, including 11 at center and one at guard. He was still honored as a Big Ten second-teamer by the coaches that year.

RAHM CLAIMS MASTERS VICTORY:

Jon Rahm turned the longest day into his sweetest victory, starting Sunday with a four-shot deficit in the morning chill and finishing in fading sunlight as the fourth Spaniard to become a Masters champion.

Rahm closed with a 3-under 69 to pull away from mistake-prone Brooks Koepka. He won by four shots over Koepka and 52-year-old Phil Mickelson, who turned in a tournament-best 65. He is the oldest runner-up in Masters history.

Rahm now has a green jacket to go along with his U.S. Open title he won in 2021 at Torrey Pines.

Rahm won for the fourth time this year — just as Scottie Scheffler did a year ago when he won the Masters — and reclaimed the No. 1 world ranking from Scheffler.

AURORA’S ALLEN COMMITS TO LOPER WRESTLING:

Aurora’s Jack Allen announced Friday via Twitter that he’ll be making the short drive west for his college wrestling career.

Allen earned the Class B, 285 pound championship this past state tourney. The win capped off a 48-1 season.

UNK TENNIS FALLS IN TOP 40 MATCHUP:

The 37th-ranked Missouri Western State Griffons won three singles matches in three sets to down 40th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney, 6-1, Saturday afternoon in St. Joseph.

The Griffs improve to 12-4 (4-2) while the Lopers fall to 12-10 (3-4). In the first edition of the NCAA Region Rankings (April 5), Mo West was fifth in the Central with UNK sixth.

UNK has added a home indoor dual today vs. Midland. First serve is set for 10 a.m.

LOPER T&F WIN FOUR EVENTS IN TEXAS AND KANSAS:

The Nebraska-Kearney track and field team won four events at the K.T. Woodman and Jo Meaker Classics this weekend in Kansas and Texas.

UNK hosts the Loper Invitational at KHS next Saturday.

NEBRASKA SOFTBALL TAKES MARYLAND SERIES:

The Nebraska softball team (27-13, 7-4 Big Ten) clinched the Big Ten series win after shutting out Maryland, 4-0, Sunday afternoon in College Park. The Huskers held the Terrapins (27-12, 4-7 Big Ten) to only three hits on the day. 

Sarah Harness (9-4) was dominant in the circle, allowing only one hit through five innings of work to record the win for NU. Courtney Wallace entered the circle in the sixth inning, holding the Terrapins scoreless, earning her second save of the season. 

The Huskers return to action next weekend, April 14-16 in Bloomington to take on Indiana in a three-game series. Game one is set for Friday, April 14 at 5 p.m. (CT).

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

MONDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Golf: @ HAC Championships @ Norfolk Country Club – 9:30 AM
  • Boys Soccer: @ Lincoln Southwest @ Seacrest Field – 1 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Soccer: @ North Platte – 4 PM
• UNK:
  • Women’s Golf: @ Virginia Laas Invitational @ Joplin, MO
  • Women’s Tennis: v. Midland – 1 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • Men’s Golf: @ Midwest Spring National Invite @ Manhattan, KS – 10 AM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • High School Coaches Show (5 PM – 6 PM)
  • Sports Nightly w/ Husker Baseball HC Will Bolt (6 PM – 8 PM)

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Baseball: @ HAC Tournament
    • GAME 1: v. #9 Norfolk @ Den Hartog Field – 12 PM
    • GAME 2: TBD
  • Girls Tennis: v. Lexington @ Harmon Park – 4 PM
  • Girls Soccer: v. Lincoln Southwest @ Kearney High School – 5:30 PM
    • KGFW Pregame beginning at 5:15 PM
  • Boys Soccer: v. Grand Island @ Kearney High School – 7:30 PM
    • KGFW Pregame beginning at 7:15 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys Golf: v. KCHS Triangular – 4 PM
    • v. Ravenna & Loup City
  • Girls Soccer: v. Columbus Scotus – 5 PM
  • Boys Soccer: v. Columbus Scotus – 7 PM
• UNK:
  • Women’s Golf: @ Virginia Laas Invitational @ Joplin, MO
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • Men’s Golf: @ Midwest Spring National Invite @ Manhattan, KS – 10 AM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney Girls Soccer v. Lincoln Southwest (5:15 PM – 7:15 PM)
  • Kearney Boys Soccer v. Grand Island (7:15 PM – 9:15 PM)

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Baseball: @ HAC Tournament
    • GAME 3: TBD
  • KHS Collegiate Signing Day @ CHaT – 4 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Women’s Tennis: v. Fort Hays State – 3 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • Women’s Golf: @ CSM Spring Classic @ Omaha, NE – 10 AM
  • Men’s Tennis; @ Doane – 3 PM
  • Softball: v. Midland – 4 PM
  • Softball: v. Midland – 6 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney Baseball @ HAC Tournament – TBD
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Tennis: v. KHS Invite @ Harmon Park – 9:30 AM
  • Boys Golf: @ Hastings Invite @ Lochland Country Club – 10 AM
  • Track & Field: @ Omaha Central Invite @ Burke Stadium – 4 PM
  • Boys Soccer: v. Omaha Central @ Kearney High School – 7 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at 6:45 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys Golf: @ Hastings Invite – 10 AM
  • Track & Field: @ Gothenburg Invite – 2:30 PM
  • Boys Soccer: @ Platteview – 4:30 PM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ Bryan Clay Invite @ Azusa, CA
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: @ KU Relays – 1 PM
  • Women’s Golf: @ CSM Spring Classic @ Omaha, NE – 10 AM
  • Women’s Tennis:  @ Doane – 3 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 6:45 PM)
  • Kearney Boys Soccer v. Omaha Central (6:45 PM – 8:45 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Track & Field: @ KU Relays – TBD
  • Baseball: v. Fremont @ Memorial Field – 4 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at 3:45 PM
  • Girls Soccer: v. Lincoln North Star @ Beechner Field – 6 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Tennis: @ Lexington Invite – 9 AM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ Bryan Clay Invite @ Azusa, CA
  • Softball: @ Lincoln @ Jefferson City, MO – 1 PM
  • Softball: @ Lincoln @ Jefferson City, MO – 3 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: @ KU Relays – 1 PM
  • M/W T&F: @ Concordia Outdoor Invite – 1 PM
  • Softball: @ Dordt @ Sioux City, IA – 4 PM
  • Softball: @ Dordt @ Sioux City, IA – 6 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney Baseball: v. Fremont (3:45 PM – 6:45 PM)
  • Nebraska Baseball: v. Northwestern (6:45 PM – 10 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Track & Field: @ KU Relays – TBD
  • Girls Tennis: v. Gering @ Harmon Park – 9 AM
  • Girls Tennis: v. Scottsbluff @ Harmon Park – 11 AM
  • Baseball: v. Hastings @ Memorial Field – 12 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at 11:45 AM
  • Boys Soccer: @ Lincoln Pius X @ Pius X High School – 1 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Tennis: @ Scottsbluff – 9 AM
  • Girls Tennis: @ Gering – 9 AM
  • Girls Soccer: @ Omaha Mercy – 1:15 PM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ Bryan Clay Invite @ Azusa, CA
  • M/W T&F: v. Loper Invite @ KHS – 11 AM
  • Softball: @ Central Missouri @ Warrensburg, MO – 12 PM
  • Women’s Soccer: v. College of St. Mary @ Foster Field – 12 PM
  • Softball: @ Central Missouri @ Warrensburg, MO – 2 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE: 
  • M/W T&F: @ KU Relays – 1 PM
  • M/W T&F: @ Concordia Outdoor Invite – 1 PM
  • Men’s Tennis: v. Mount Marty – 12 PM
  • Women’s Tennis: v. Mount Marty – 12 PM
  • Baseball: v. Briar Cliff (IA) @ Duncan Field – 1 PM
  • Softball: @ Northwestern (IA) – 1 PM
  • Softball: @ Northwestern (IA) – 3 PM
  • Baseball: v. Briar Cliff (IA) @ Duncan Field – 4 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney Baseball v. Hastings (11:45 AM – 2:45 PM)
  • Nebraska Baseball v. Northwestern (2:45 PM – 6 PM)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • Baseball: @ Midland – 2 PM
  • Baseball: @ Midland – 4:30 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Baseball v. Northwestern (12 PM – 4 PM)