Nebraska Baseball Delivers a Stunning Upset, Dominating No. 16 Florida State!
In a performance that truly turned heads, the Nebraska baseball team, now with a 4-3 record, managed to salvage their trip to Arlington, Texas, with an emphatic 10-1 victory over the highly-ranked No. 16 Florida State Seminoles (4-2) at Globe Life Field on Sunday. This wasn't just a win; it was a statement.
The Pitching Masterclass: Gavin Blachowicz Shines
On the mound, right-hander Gavin Blachowicz, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, was nothing short of spectacular in his second start of the season. He was on the verge of a perfect game, carrying a no-hitter into the fourth inning! While he eventually allowed a solo home run, that was the lone run he surrendered through five dominant innings. His impressive stat line included six strikeouts and a mere three walks, securing his first win of the season (1-0) with a stellar 1.96 ERA.
Dylan Carey: The Offensive Dynamo
At the plate, senior shortstop Dylan Carey was an absolute force. He went 3-for-5 at the plate and was responsible for an astonishing 5 RBIs. The highlight of his offensive onslaught? A breathtaking inside-the-park home run in the seventh inning that put the exclamation point on Nebraska's offensive surge.
How the Huskers Built Their Lead
Nebraska wasted no time in putting pressure on Florida State's starting left-hander, Payton Manca. He was pulled after recording just one out. The Huskers' offense got rolling early. Mac Moyer drew a leadoff walk, followed by a double from second baseman Jett Buck, and a walk to Case Sanderson. This set the stage for Joshua Overbeek to drive in the first run with a sacrifice fly, making it 1-0. Then, Dylan Carey stepped up and blasted a 2-RBI double to left-center, extending the lead to 3-0. This marked Carey's 50th career double, bringing him closer to tying his head coach, Will Bolt, for the school record!
Meanwhile, Blachowicz was dealing. After plunking the second batter, he retired nine consecutive Seminoles, striking out four of them. He had yet to allow a hit through three innings.
In the top of the third, Nebraska continued to pile on. Singles from Buck and Sanderson set up another RBI from Carey, this time a single to make it 4-0. Cole Kitchens then added another run with an RBI groundout, bringing Sanderson home for a 5-0 advantage.
Blachowicz Shuts Down FSU's Only Threat
As Blachowicz was cruising with his no-hitter in the bottom of the fourth, Myles Bailey of Florida State managed to break it up with a solo home run. With a subsequent walk, it looked like Blachowicz might be in a tight spot. However, he responded by striking out his fifth batter of the day to end the inning. He went on to retire five of the final seven batters he faced, finishing his outing with 71 pitches (41 strikes) to secure the win.
Nebraska Refuses to Let This One Slip Away
Unlike previous games where they had leads and faltered, Nebraska showed incredible resilience. Up 5-1 entering the sixth inning, the Huskers' bats delivered crucial insurance runs. Will Jesske hit a double to drive in their sixth run. Catcher Miken Miller and Buck each added two more RBIs, extending the lead to 8-1. Then, in the seventh, Dylan Carey delivered his unforgettable 2-RBI inside-the-park home run, solidifying the 10-1 victory over the ranked opponent.
Impressive Relief Pitching
Left-hander Colin Nowaczyk was phenomenal in relief, retiring six of the seven batters he faced and striking out four of them. Right-hander Cooper Katskee made his highly anticipated debut, striking out the first two batters he faced and showcasing the potential that earned him the 2025 MAC Pitcher of the Year award.
Looking Ahead
Nebraska will now head to face No. 9 Auburn for a three-game series starting Friday, February 27th, at 6 p.m. CT.
But here's where it gets interesting... While Nebraska's offense and pitching were undeniably strong, some might argue that Florida State didn't bring their A-game. Do you think Nebraska's performance was more about their own dominance, or Florida State's struggles? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Here's a quick look at the box score:
Nebraska Batting:
| POS | Player | AB | R | H | RBI | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | SO | AVG |
|-----|---------------|----|---|---|-----|----|----|----|----|----|-------|
| CF | Moyer | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .438 |
| 2B | Buck | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .414 |
| 1B | Sanderson | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .360 |
| 3B | Overbeek | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .393 |
| SS | Carey | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .455 |
| DH | Kitchens | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 |
| LF | Jesske | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .348 |
| C | Miller | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .182 |
| RF | Grego | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .400 |
| TOT | Team Totals | 35 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10 | — |
Nebraska Pitching:
| Player | DEC | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | ERA |
|--------------|-----|-----|---|---|----|----|----|-------|
| Blachowicz | W (1-0) | 5.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1.96 |
| Nowaczyk | — | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 18.00 |
| Katskee | — | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3.22 |
| TEAM TOTALS | — | 9.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 14 | — |
What do you think of Nebraska's performance? Was it a sign of things to come, or a one-off gem? Share your thoughts!
