Nebraska Huskers Set to Host First NCAA Baseball Regional Since 2008

Nebraska baseball is preparing for a major postseason moment as the Huskers host an NCAA Regional at Haymarket Park, their first NCAA Tournament home game since 2008. Head coach Will Bolt said the opportunity has been a long-term goal since he arrived in 2019, and he hopes Friday’s opener against South Dakota State draws a massive crowd, possibly as many as 10,000 fans. Nebraska enters the regional with a 42-15 record and will play the Jackrabbits on Friday at 3 p.m., with the game available on ESPN+.

Bolt said the atmosphere in Lincoln during NCAA Tournament play has always stood out to him. He remembered competing in a regional in the early 2000s and seeing a strong turnout of Nebraska fans dressed in red, creating an intense postseason environment. That same energy is expected to return this week as the Huskers open regional play at home for the first time in 18 years. Ole Miss and Arizona State are the other teams participating in the Lincoln Regional, making for a full weekend of high-stakes college baseball at Haymarket Park.

All four teams were on the field Thursday for practice and media availability as the regional began to take shape. Nebraska announced Carson Jasa will start on the mound against South Dakota State. Jasa has been one of the Huskers’ most reliable pitchers this season, posting a 3.78 ERA and striking out 109 batters.

The NCAA Regional in Lincoln runs from Friday through Monday, with the winner advancing deeper into the tournament. For Nebraska, simply hosting the event marks a significant milestone after nearly two decades without an NCAA Tournament home game. For Bolt and the Huskers, Friday’s matchup represents both a fresh postseason challenge and a chance to feed off the home crowd in one of the program’s biggest moments in years.