Monday Morning Sports – Nebraska Baseball Falls to Rutgers, Husker Football Wraps Up Spring Practices, Scott Frost Spring Game Comments, Storm Win Western Conference, Husker Softball Sweeps Rutgers, Local Sports Schedule

NEBRASKA BASEBALL FALLS IN SERIES FINALE TO RUTGERS:

Nebraska suffered a 19-1 setback in the series finale vs. Rutgers at Hawks Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Huskers (12-18, 4-5 Big Ten) had one run on two hits and an error, while the Scarlet Knights (25-6, 8-1 Big Ten) totaled 19 runs on 19 hits.

Nebraska continues its homestand, hosting Creighton on Tuesday, April 12 at Hawks Field. First pitch between the Huskers and Bluejays is set for 6:35 p.m.

DEFENSE EDGES OFFENSE IN NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SPRING GAME:

In a Spring Game format that pitted the offense against the defense with a modified scoring system, it was the defense (White) that edged the offense (Red), 43-39 in front of 54,357 fans on a sunny Saturday afternoon inside Memorial Stadium.

The White team led for the majority of the game before the Red team took a 39-35 lead in the fourth quarter on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Jarrett Synek to Ty Hahn with 2:17 remaining. But under the modified scoring system, the White rallied to win by scoring the game’s last eight points. Darius Moore clinched the victory for the White squad with an interception with 57 seconds to play. The defense then padded its lead by recording a fourth-down stop on the offense’s ensuing possession, earning two points for stopping the offense on fourth down.

The Red team recorded 32 first downs in the game and totaled 677 yards in the four 12-minute quarters. The offense completed 24-of-49 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, while rushing 70 times for 375 yards and three touchdowns.

NEBRASKA SPRING GAME POSTGAME COMMENTS:

FROST – PASS RUSH LOOKED STRONG DESPITE DEPTH

Nebraska Football completed their spring practice sessions with the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, as the White Defense won the contest with key stops and turnovers against the Red Offense. 

Nebraska Head Coach Scott Frost added he was very happy to see the defensive pass rush continue to dominate in the Spring… 

Frost continued that some of the dominance was due to injuries on the offensive line, but overall stated it was good to see the defense back to their dominant ways. 

FROST – PORTAL STILL AN OPTION FOR SOME POSITIONS

The Nebraska Football team wrapped up their Spring Football practices for the year on Saturday at the conclusion of the Red-White Spring Game. Head Coach Scott Frost was happy to see the improvement of his team from the beginning of the 14 practice session, but did say in his post-practice comments the Big Red are still peeking into the portal… 

One of those positions could be defensive line, where the Huskers hosted TCU transfer Ochaun Mathis and his family. Mathis currently has the Huskers in his Top 5. 

FROST – QUARTERBACKS ARE STILL LEARNING THE NEW OFFENSE

Head Coach Scott Frost seemed satisfied with his defense’s efforts in the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, but mentioned in his post-game press conference he thought the offense will need to continue to work out some of the kinks… 

Frost was asked if a starter was named after the conclusion of spring practices, as the Head Coach added he would not name QB1 until fall camp.

FROST – GREAT TO HAVE FANS SEE THE TEAM WORK:

Head Coach Scott Frost was pleased to see his team compete and practice well in front of 54,000+ fans at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. He added his team check marked all the boxes for him and his coaching staff… 

Frost and the Huskers now settle into a long summer preparing for Northwestern in Ireland on August 27. 

FROST – SIMPLE OFFENSE STRUGGLED IN FIRST HALF

It was a stellar defensive performance on Saturday by the White team as the Nebraska Football Team completed their 2022 Spring Practice sessions. The Red offense struggled at times due to their simplicity suggested Head Coach Scott Frost… 

Nebraska’s offense played five different quarterbacks while several running backs also saw action and received carries. The Big Red now await Northwestern on August 27. 

FROST – LONG SUMMER TO PREPARE FOR SEASON OPENER

As the Huskers wrapped up the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, Head Coach Scott Frost was already peeking ahead as to what comes next with the team off until fall camp… 

Frost and the Huskers are aiming for their first winning season since 2016.

KEARNEY BASEBALL TAKES ON HASTINGS AT MEMORIAL FIELD:

The Kearney High Baseball team split their Saturday Double-Dual matchups in Lincoln, dominating Lincoln High but falling to Lincoln North Star. The Bearcats now return home to take on Hastings at Memorial Field in Kearney this afternoon. 

Pregame coverage begins at 3:50 PM on KGFW with Austin Jacobsen on the call. The Bearcats (7-5) begin another busy week of contests, starting with Hastings (5-7) today then following up with the HAC Tournament in Lincoln on Tuesday and Wednesday.

STORM WIN WESTERN CONFERENCE REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP:

The Tri-City Storm clinched the fifth Western Conference Regular Season Championship in the organization’s twenty-two year history on Sunday afternoon in an 8-6 victory over the Sioux City Musketeers. 

Storm forward Jeremy Wilmer broke former Storm forward, and 2019 Stanley Cup Champion, Jaden Schwartz’s single-season organizational points record during the game. Wilmer notched his record-breaking 84th point of the regular season on a 2nd period goal scored by Cole O’Hara. T

The 2021-2022 Tri-City Storm team set a new organizational record for most goals scored in a single season during the victory. This year’s Storm team has netted 236 goals, more than any previous team in the organization’s history. 

Arsenii Sergeev notched his league-leading 28th win of the season in goal for the Storm.

Tri-City hits the ice again on Friday, April 15th, in a road game against the Omaha Lancers. Puck drop is set for 7:05pm CT.

HUSKER SOFTBALL LED BY FERRELL’S PITCHING TO WIN OVER SPARTY:

The Nebraska softball team (28-9) moved to 8-0 in Big Ten Conference play after its 5-4 victory over Michigan State in the second contest of the Sunday doubleheader. Olivia Ferrell led the Huskers on both sides of the ball, smashing a two-out two-run homer in the top of the fourth and earning the save in the circle. 

Billie Andrews finished with two hits on offense and two RBIs while Cam Ybarra added with two hits, going 2-for-4. Kaylin Kinney (2-1) started in the circle for Nebraska, pitching four innings. Kinney struck out two while giving up six hits. 

The Huskers return to action this Tuesday, April 12, in Lincoln, Neb. NU will take on Iowa in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. CT at Bowlin Stadium. 

The Huskers have claimed the first three Big Ten series this season. 

UNK T&F’s BONSALL BREAKS 33 YEAR OLD RECORD AT WICHITA STATE:

The Nebraska-Kearney track and field team had 13 top five finishes and eight all-time top 10 efforts this weekend at the K.T. Woodman Classic at Wichita State.

Late Friday night, Kearney redshirt freshman Grace Bonsall broke a 33-year old Loper record at 10,000 meters. Her time of 35:34.80 led a field of 24 and was well ahead of the runner up (36:07.43). The effort easily surpasses the old record of 35:55.7, set by five-time NAIA All-American Paula West in April 1989. The time currently ranks 12th in Division II. 

The Loper Invitational is set for next Friday at Kearney High School (field events at 11 a.m.; running events at 3 p.m.). Select distance runners will head to California to take part in the Mt. Sac Relays and Bryan Clay Invite as well.

SCHEFFLER EARNS GREEN JACKET:

Two months after  Scottie Scheffler finally broke through for his first PGA Tour victory, he capped off a most incredible 56-day stretch by making his fourth win the biggest of them all, the Masters by three shots over Rory McIlroy for his first major.

The only stumble came at the end when Scheffler needed four putts from 40 feet before he could claim his first major, and that only mattered in the record book.

He closed with a 1-under 71 for a three-shot victory over Rory McIlroy, who holed out from the bunker on the final hole for a record-tying final round of 64. 

NBA POSTSEASON TAKING SHAPE WITH PLAY-IN GAMES SET:

The NBA’s postseason is finally here.

The Brooklyn Nets held off the Indiana Pacers 134-126 on Sunday, and will play host to the first play-in game of this year’s tournament when they face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.

No. 9 Atlanta will play host to No. 10 Charlotte on Wednesday night. The winner of that game will play the Nets-Cavaliers loser on Friday to determine who’ll face No. 1 Miami in an East first-round series.

The Nets-Cavaliers winner will be seeded No. 7 and meet either Boston or Milwaukee in the first round.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BASEBALL: @ Lincoln Double Dual
    • v. Lincoln High
      • KHS 10-0
    • v.  North Star
      • LNS 5-1
  • BOYS SOCCER: @ Lincoln Southwest
    • LSW 3-0
  • GIRLS SOCCER: v. Lincoln Southwest @ Kearney High School
    • LSW 4-0
• UNK:
  • SOFTBALL: v. Washburn (Doubleheader) – 12 PM, 2 PM @ Patriot Park
    • GAME 1: Washburn 7-0
    • GAME 2: Washburn 4-3

MONDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BASEBALL: v. Hastings – 4 PM
    • Pregame on KGFW at 3:50 PM
  • GIRLS TENNIS: @ Varsity Invite @ Koch Tennis Center – 8 AM
  • BOYS GOLF: HAC Golf Championships @ Norfolk Country Club – 9:30 AM
  • GIRLS TENNIS: Varsity Dual v. Gering @ Harmon Park – 1:30 PM
  • GIRLS TENNIS: Varsity Dual v. Scottsbluff @ Harmon Park – 3:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BASEBALL: v. Hastings – 4 PM
    • Pregame on KGFW at 3:50 PM
  • GIRLS TENNIS: Varsity Dual v. Gering @ Harmon Park – 1:30 PM
  • GIRLS TENNIS: Varsity Dual v. Scottsbluff @ Harmon Park – 3:30 PM
• UNK:
  • WOMENS GOLF: @ Wayne State Classic
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • MENS/WOMENS GOLF: @ Lochland Community College Invite

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BOYS GOLF: Varsity Invite @ Johnson Lake – 10 AM
  • BASEBALL: HAC Tournament
    • #2 KHS = First Round Bye.
      • KHS v. Winner of Lincoln Pius/Lincoln Northeast – 3 PM
  • BOYS SOCCER: @ Lincoln Southeast – 5 PM
  • GIRLS SOCCER: v. Lincoln Southeast – 7 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • GIRLS TENNIS: @ Lexington Dual Invite – 9:30 AM
  • BOYS GOLF: @ Ravenna Triangular – 4 PM
  • GIRLS SOCCER: @ Columbus Scotus – 5 PM
  • BOYS SOCCER: @ Columbus Scotus – 5 PM
  • BASEBALL: HAC Tournament
    • #2 KHS = First Round Bye.
      • KHS v. Winner of Lincoln Pius/Lincoln Northeast – 3 PM
• UNK:
  • WOMENS GOLF: @ Wayne State Classic
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • MENS/WOMENS GOLF: @ Lochland Community College Invite

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BASEBALL: HAC Tournament
    • #2 KHS v. TBA
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BASEBALL: HAC Tournament
    • #2 KHS v. TBA
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • MENS/WOMENS TENNIS: v. Concordia – 11 AM, 1 PM
  • SOFTBALL: v. College of St. Mary (Doubleheader) – 4 PM, 6 PM

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