SDSU RALLIES, BUT FALLS SHORT TO CORNHUSKERS

Wednesday, March 4

Lincoln, Neb.

1:30 p.m.

South Dakota State University

4-8

Nebraska

7-5

South Dakota State

Nebraska

Photo by: SDSU Athletics

3/4/2026 5:51:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska shortstop Dylan Carey went 5-for-5, including the go-ahead RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning, to lift the Cornhuskers to a 5-4 victory over South Dakota State in nonconference baseball action Wednesday afternoon at Hawks Field.

The Cornhuskers improved to 7-5 on the season, while SDSU dropped to 4-8 overall.

Carey's second double of the game came after Max Moyer led the inning with a double of his own and spoiled a comeback bid by the Jackrabbits. Trailing 4-0 after two innings, SDSU plated two runs in the top of the fifth and evened the score at 4-all on a two-run home run by Dayton Franke in the eighth.

Nolan Grawe doubled in Nic Werk with the first Jackrabbit run of the game, with Grawe later scoring on a two-out single by Owen Siegert. Nate Wachter singled ahead of Franke's second home run of the season.

Nebraska struck quickly, scoring three times in the home half of the first inning. Carey doubled in the first run and Cole Kitchens followed two batters later with a two-run single off Jackrabbit starter Jaren Vogt.

The Cornhuskers added a run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Case Sanderson after Trey Fikes led off the frame by being hit by a pitch.

The Jackrabbit bullpen held firm as four pitchers combined for six shutout innings until surrendering the lead in the eighth. Dylan Richardson and Nebraska native Jacob Sjuts each logged two scoreless innings, while Austin Henry worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings, including working out of a bases-loaded jam he inherited in the fourth inning with a double play.

Richardson recorded the only two strikeouts by the SDSU pitching staff on the day. Freshman Kaden Rylance took the loss.

Nebraska starter Pryce Bender tossed four shutout innings, scattering five hits, walking one and striking out two. Kevin Mannell pitched the final 1 2/3 innings to earn the victory, striking out two.

The Cornhuskers out-hit SDSU, 11-10, with Moyer the only other Nebraska player beside Carey with more than one hit. Franke, Grawe and Travis Finney each collected two hits for the Jackrabbits.

ON DECK
South Dakota State moves on to Minneapolis for three games this weekend at the Cambria Classic, which will be played at U.S. Bank Stadium. Friday's opener against Northwestern is set for an 11 a.m. first pitch.

NOTES

Nebraska leads the all-time series, 19-4, but ended a two-game losing streak to the Jackrabbits
SDSU has been outscored 21-1 in the first inning of games so far this season
Franke's home run was the 10^th of his collegiate career and came in his 109^th career at-bat
Franke doubled off the top of the fence in right-center field in the fourth inning to give him two extra-base hits in the game
The Jackrabbits' four doubles in the game tied a season high (at Incarnate Word on Feb. 17)
Left fielder Carter Taylor recorded eight putouts in a busy afternoon in the field
Neither team committed an error