The Nebraska baseball team had a very good week. Not only did the team go 5-1 but they managed to take two of three games from 24th ranked Maryland, in the team's first conference home series of the season. Those wins, followed by winning two and tieing one against Indiana the weekend before has Nebraska looking like they just might be the best baseball team in the Big Ten. Only Minnesota has a better winning percentage in the conference, as they are 6-0, but their opponents have arguably been on a lower tier.
Just how good a week did the Huskers have?
Not only did first baseman/pitcher Ben Miller receive the Big Ten player of the week honors, but pitcher Jake Hohensee nabbed the conference pitcher of the week as well. It's been a long time since Nebraska was able to take both those baseball honors home at the same time. That might be showing just how big the turnaround to what looked like a nightmare season might end up being.
Nebraska continues its hot run
The Huskers baseball team has been one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten over the last month. While they did suffer their first loss in conference play on Saturday, they shrugged that defeat off and upended Maryland in the final game of the series. Jake Hohensee set the tone on Friday night when he went 8.1 innings of three hit, one run baseball.
While that was quite impressive, it would be hard to be more impressive than what Ben Miller did over the course of the week,
Batted .769 this weekend.
— Nebraska Baseball (@Husker_Baseball) April 10, 2017
Absolutely mashed. đź’Ş
Big-ups to @BenMiller44! pic.twitter.com/lTJtMSFcjy
Miller was an absolute monster for Nebraska baseball at the plate, hitting an astounding.769 over the weekend.
If that performance wasn't good enough, the Nebraska outfielder and pitcher showed he's an equally good baseball player whether he's pitching or hitting. On last Tuesday's game against in-state rival Creighton, Miller set the tone of the game by getting the start and throwing three shutout innings where he allowed just one hit and struck out four.
He managed to make his four walks not hurt Nebraska in the least.
Only three hits and one run allowed in 8.1 innings of work.
— Nebraska Baseball (@Husker_Baseball) April 10, 2017
Congrats to @JakeHohensee on the honor. đź‘“ pic.twitter.com/McF7H9XedC
Miller getting hot for Nebraska at the right time
For a Nebraska baseball team that has struggled offensively all season, Miller is catching fire at just the right time. When it comes to pinpointing a culprit for the Husker baseball team struggling, Miller could be fingered. Even with the .769 average this weekend, his season average sits at just .278. While he's driven in just 14 RBI, he is tied for the Nebraska team lead in home runs with just three. Hohensee, on the other hand has been Nebraska's most steady pitcher, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.16 earned run average this season.