Nebraska baseball picked to finish near top of Big Ten
AXTELL, Neb. — Nebraska's Emmett Olson, Max Anderson and Brice Matthews each claimed spots on the Big Ten Preseason Honors List, announced by the conference on Thursday.
Olson, a second-team All-Big Ten selection last season, went 3-3 with a 2.86 ERA and a save in 19 appearances, including eight starts in 2022. The Des Plaines, Ill., native totaled 65 strikeouts in 66 innings and limited opposing hitters to a .238 batting average. Olson had five starts with at least six innings and notched seven outings with at least five strikeouts, including a season-high seven strikeouts in two games.
Anderson, a junior infielder, batted .299 with a team-high 12 doubles and 10 home runs last season, while also leading the Huskers with 45 RBI and 47 runs as a sophomore. The Omaha native tallied 18 multi-hit games, including a pair of four-hit games. Anderson went 4-for-5 with a triple, two RBI and two runs at UT Arlington, before having a 4-for-5 day at the plate with two home runs, a double and four RBI in the season finale vs. Michigan State.
Matthews, a junior infielder, appeared in 45 games as a sophomore last season, making 44 starts for the Huskers. The Humble, Texas, native hit .261 at the plate with eight doubles, seven home runs, 29 RBI and 31 runs scored. Matthews recorded 10 multi-hit games and had a team-high 12 stolen bases, while compiling nine multi-RBI games and posting a season-best reached base streak of 22 games.
The Big Ten also released its preseason coaches' poll on Thursday. Nebraska is picked to finish fifth in the conference, behind Maryland, Rutgers, Iowa and Illinois. Rounding out the preseason poll, Indiana was tabbed sixth.
2023 Big Ten Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Maryland
2. Rutgers
3. Iowa
4. Illinois
5. Nebraska
6. Indiana
Nebraska's 2023 Big Ten Preseason Honors List
Emmett Olson (Junior LHP)
Max Anderson (Junior INF)
Brice Matthews (Junior INF)
Full Big Ten Preseason Honors List:
Jack Crowder, RHP, Jr., Illinois
Riley Gowens, RHP, Jr., Illinois
Cam McDonald, IF/OF, Sr., Illinois
Matthew Ellis, C, Sr., Indiana
Phillip Glasser, IF, Sr., Indiana
Carter Mathison, OF, So., Indiana
Keaton Anthony, 1B/DH/RHP, So., Iowa
Will Christophersen, RHP, Jr., Iowa
Ty Langenberg, RHP, Jr., Iowa
Jason Savacool, RHP, Jr., Maryland
Matt Shaw, SS, Jr., Maryland
Luke Shliger, C, Jr., Maryland
Tito Flores, LF, Sr., Michigan
Connor O’Halloran, LHP, Jr., Michigan
Mitch Voit, 3B, Fr., Michigan
Trent Farquhar, 2B, Jr., Michigan State
Mitch Jebb, SS, Jr., Michigan State
Casey Mayes, OF, Sr., Michigan State
Brett Bateman, CF, Jr., Minnesota
Boston Merlia, LF, Jr., Minnesota
Tucker Novotny, LHP, So., Minnesota
Max Anderson, IF, Jr., Nebraska
Brice Matthews, IF, Jr., Nebraska
Emmett Olson, LHP, Jr., Nebraska
Alex Calerco, C, So., Northwestern
Ben Grable, RHP, Jr., Northwestern
Stephen Hrustich, C/1B/OF, Sr., Northwestern
Isaiah Coupet, LHP, Jr., Ohio State
Kade Kern, OF, Jr., Ohio State
Trey Lipsey, OF, So., Ohio State
Jay Harry, SS, Jr., Penn State
Travis Luensmann, RHP, Jr., Penn State
Josh Spiegel, C/1B, Sr., Penn State
Evan Albrecht, SS, Sr., Purdue
Mike Bolton Jr., OF, Sr., Purdue
Cam Thompson, 1B/OF, Jr., Purdue
Chris Brito, IF, Sr., Rutgers
Ryan Lasko, OF, Jr., Rutgers
Tony Santa Maria, IF, Jr., Rutgers
