The Nebraska Cornhuskers entered the regional final as the No. 1 seed, and they wasted no time imposing their will on South Dakota State. In front of a sellout crowd at Haymarket Park, the Huskers built an early lead and never looked back, ultimately sealing a 4‑1 victory that propelled them into the winner’s bracket.
The game’s opening run came when Trey Fikes singled, driving in Jett Buck for the first tally. A subsequent groundout by Mac Moyer added a second run, giving Nebraska a comfortable cushion early on. Right‑handed sophomore pitcher Carson Jasa turned in a solid outing, limiting the Jackrabbits to just one hit through six innings before a solitary run found its way onto the board in the seventh.
Relief pitcher J’Shawn Unger entered in the seventh and struck out a batter to halt a potential rally, preserving Nebraska’s lead. The offense struck again in the eighth when Dylan Carey launched a home run, extending the advantage to 3‑1. Jett Buck followed with a solo homer of his own, pushing the score to 4‑1 and sealing the win.
Looking Ahead to the Next Challenge
Nebraska will now await the winner of the Arizona State versus Ole Miss matchup, a contest that will determine their opponent in the next round scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday. The Huskers’ blend of disciplined pitching, timely hitting and a deep bullpen positions them well for the next test, as they aim to keep their season alive and chase a path to the championship series.