Bolt-Ball: 2023 Cambria College Classic Preview

Nebraska Baseball heading North to take on a pair of ranked opponents.

Picture via Hail Varsity

Vanderbilt Friday-11 AM CST-B1G+

Nebraska opens the Cambria College Classic with No. 7 ranked Vanderbilt in US Bank Stadium. The Commodores come in 6-3 with some impressive wins already on their resume. Vandy has taken down #9 Oklahoma State, Texas, and they beat #17 UCLA twice this past weekend. The Big Red bats will most likely face LHP Carter Holton for the Vandy boys. As the Gold and Black's friday night starter has been magnificent thus far. Holton threw 5 1/3 only allowing 1 hit and 0 runs with 7 Ks against UCLA. Holton has a plus plus breaking ball pairing with his lively fastball ranging in the mid-90s. It will be imperative for Nebraska's offense to work deep counts and put the ball in play.

Expected starter for Nebraska will be Emmett Olson. The junior has had 2 decent outings thus far and hopes to fill up the zone Friday morning. Olson and the Husker staff will have their hands-full on the base path with phenom Enrique Bradford Jr. out there, who has already stolen 5 bags on 8 attempts this year. The Dores also have Junior Calvin Hewett who is 6 for 6 on stolen bases this year. Plain and simple, Nebraska MUST limit the free passes.

Hawaii Saturday-3 PM CST-B1G+

Nebraska finds themselves across the diamond with another West Coast Conference team early in 2023. What seems to be a "break" from competition will not as easy at it seems. Hawaii is a very competitive baseball program that poses an underlying challenge for any opponent. The Rainbow Warriors come into the Cambria Classic 4-3 with a loss to Nebraska's previous foe San Diego,14-2. Hawaii did however take 3 of 4 from a very talented Wright State program that repeatedly finds themselves in the NCAA Tournament.

The Bows will most likely start Arizona transfer Randy Abshier. The 6'4 left hander has 2 appearances in 2023 with a 0-0 record. He has thrown 7 1/3 innings total only allowing 4 hits and 2 earned runs. Another challenge for the Husker bats.

The Rainbow Warriors offense is not a walk in the park either. They have scored 10+ runs in 3 of their 7 games. That includes the run-rule game with Wright State and 13-1 victory over NDSU.

Nebraska will most likely start Jace Kaminska, who did a great job filling up the zone in Mobile and looks to build on that momentum. It will be an interesting test to see if he can limit this relentless offensive attack.

Ole Miss Sunday-1:30 PM CST-B1G+

Sunday scaries are real when defending National Champion Ole Miss is in the opposing dugout. Nebraska closes out the Cambria classic with the No. 4 team in all the land. Mike Bianco brings in a very good Ole Miss team that is currently 7-2 with a series win over No.13 Maryland. The Rebels most recent matchup ended in a 2-game split with scrappy La Tech. (Some would argue they got saved from being swept) Ole Miss has a lot of young talent on this squad, but they do give up their runs. Nebraska's offense will need to take full advantage of the long ball just like La Tech and Maryland did in their wins against the Rebels.

Nebraska fans will most likely see Caleb Clark toe the rubber to round out the weekend. Talk about gaining experience QUICK. I would expect a quick flip to the bullpen regardless of the inning outcomes. Nebraska had some great performances out of the pen this past weekend and they will need those arms to come through again.

Overlook

Taking 2 of these 3 games would be huge for the Huskers and their season. This is the final road-trip for the Huskers before returning home to Haymarket Park to face Northern Colorado.

Brice Matthews, Max Anderson, and Josh Caron need to continue building at the dish. While the pitching staff needs to continue limiting the free passes.

What a schedule for the Cambria College Classic. GBR.