The Nebraska baseball team opened its 2026 season in resounding fashion, throttling UConn in a 12-2, mercy-rule victory, at the MLB Desert Invitational in Scottsdale, Ariz. The game was shortened to seven innings by the 10-run mercy rule.
The Cornhuskers’ (1-0) offensive effort was paced by both returners and newcomers. From the former category, Case Sanderson was 3-for-4 with an RBI while Dylan Carey was 3-for-5 with four RBI and a triple. From the latter category, Cole Kitchens, a transfer from Southern Indiana, was 3-for-4 with a double in his Nebraska debut. On the mound, Ty Horn threw 4.2 innings, allowing three hits and four walks, but only one run. However, his night ended after throwing 99 pitches. Caleb Clark earned the win, throwing 1.2 innings of no-hit, one run ball while walking two and striking out three.
The Huskies (0-1) scored a run in the top of the first, but the Huskers answered immediately in the next half-inning. After Carey’s RBI single put NU on the board, a Kitchens three-run double cleared the bases and gave Nebraska a 4-1 lead through one inning. The Huskers tacked on one run in the second to boost the lead to 5-1. Joshua Overbeek reignited the scoring for Nebraska in the third with a two-run double to grow the lead to six. Carey followed with another RBI single to scored Overbeek and push the lead to 8-1. UConn scored one in the top of the seventh, but in the bottom of the seventh, Jett Buck hit an RBI double to respond. Case Sanderson drove in a run with a single to left to make it 10-2. Carey followed with a two-run triple to bring on the mercy rule.
The Huskers now look to build on the opening day win Saturday night against Northeastern at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz., spring training home of the Chicago Cubs. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 7 p.m. on KLIN.