The Nebraska baseball team opened the Big 10 conference season with another victory on Friday afternoon. The Huskers took down a Michigan State Spartans team that is, to put it mildly, having a tough season. The Cornhuskers managed to outlast the Spartans, 4-1, thanks to some wildness and defensive miscues in the bottom of the seventh inning that was also the Cornhuskers' home opener.

Long-delayed Haymarket debut

Cold, ice, snow and then rain has forced the Huskers to change up their regular season schedule for the spring. The team was originally supposed to play their first game at Haymarket Park on March 5 against the UNO Mavericks.

That was postponed because of weather.

They were then supposed to play a series against Baylor in Lincoln the following weekend. That series was moved to Waco, Texas and the Cornhuskers were able to still win that series two games to one against the then 21st ranked team in the country.

A game against North Dakota State and a series against New Mexico State were also canceled due to weather. That made Michigan State the sacrificial lamb for the Huskers. Even still the series was switched up a bit, with the Nebraska baseball team playing two games on Friday against MSU.

Twin bill favors the weak

In a situation like this, a doubleheader can actually help the weaker team, simply because it's hard to win two games in one day.

Despite that fact, the Huskers got off to a good start thanks in large part to Matt Waldron continued his hot streak as a starter. Against Michigan State he had his second career complete game, allowing just two hits and one earned run.

In his last three starts, Waldron has gone 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA. He's also struck out 21 batters in his last 21 innings.

His outing allowed a Huskers offense that struggled a bit to put up just enough runs to win the game. The Nebraska baseball team entered the 7th tied at one, but a based loaded walk by Aaron Palensky put the team up 2-1. Earlier in the game, he drove in a run with a sac fly and finished the contest 1-for-3 with two RBI.

Nebraska baseball fill-in is shining

One of the most surprising performances of the spring for the Huskers might be Cam Chick. He's subbing for Spencer Schwellenbach who suffered an injury on Wednesday against Air Force. Since that injury, Chick is 5-for-his-last-6 at the plate. That includes a 3-for-4 performance against Michigan State. On Friday afternoon, he started the game-winning rally by leading off the seventh with a single.

The Huskers (9-7, 1-0) take on Michigan State (3-16, 0-1) in the second game of the twin bill on Friday night.
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