Buffs take first series loss of 2026 to Nebraska

Colorado Buffaloes pitcher Tyler Gillmore in the windup (photo by Jacob Hock/Sko Buffs Sports)

The Colorado Buffaloes (10-5, 3-0 Mid-Am West) club baseball team caught its first series loss of the spring season last weekend, courtesy of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Buffs big red rival was able to run rule Colorado in the series finale after a hard-fought first two games.

Game One

The series opener on Friday caught the tail-end of a cold front in Boulder, with a chilly first pitch at 7 p.m. MT. Colorado was coming off a conference sweep over Metro State, once again off promising pitching, and tossed out senior pitcher Peter Nickerson for the game one start.

The bad blood between Colorado and Nebraska spilled over onto the diamond multiple times on Friday, with high tension and a few moments when players needed to be held back.

The Cornhuskers grabbed the lead early and chased Nickerson after the fourth. CU tied it up, but Nebraska plated four more runs to go up 6-2 into the seventh inning stretch. 

The Buffs responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring five runs and bringing everyone in the lineup to the plate. Four consecutive batters reached before sophomore Michael McGinnis hit a two-run RBI double to put the Buffs in the lead.

Nebraska leveled the game in the top of the eighth with a sacrifice fly, ultimately sending the match tied to the bottom of the ninth. The Cornhuskers retired the first two batters of the inning before a pair of hit-by-pitches and an error loaded up the bases for senior Nathan Hoffman.

With two strikes, Hoffman tapped a ground ball over to Nebraska shortstop Alex Imig. He fielded it cleanly but made a poor throw over to first, allowing Hoffman to reach via error and walk off the game 8-7.

“The approach was to make solid contact and put the ball in play to force their defense to make a play,” Hoffman said. “Luckily, that’s what happened.”

Game Two

The Boulder sun returned for Saturday’s doubleheader, leaving two seven-inning games to determine the series. Senior Will Shine got his fourth start of the season and threw a great game, not allowing an earned run through 4.2 innings.

Pitching from both sides was effective all game, with only three combined arms seeing time on the mound in game two.

Nebraska’s starter Cole Madsen threw a complete game in the Cornhuskers' win, surrendering just three hits and one run across seven frames.

Colorado got the scoring started in the bottom of the second off a fielder’s choice RBI from junior Jud Stafford. Nebraska plated two runs in the top of the fifth, which proved to be enough support for Madsen to close out the game in the Cornhuskers' swift 2-1 victory.

Game Three

It felt fitting for this rivalry series to head into a rubber match to determine its winner. 

A strong upperclassmen pitching matchup and the fact that both teams had scored an even nine runs in the series, teed up for an exceptional finale.

However, Nebraska derouted those aspirations by run-ruling Colorado 14-4 through five innings to take the series.

Junior Chase Ambhuel got the start and was pulled in the third after allowing five runs. Relievers Timpani Salvatore and Rowan Hopson combined for six earned runs through under three innings of work in a rare outlier game for Colorado.

“I don’t think going 1-2 against them showed our true level of ability,” said Preston Tee, Colorado’s acting manager for the weekend. “We have a ton of talent on the mound, at the plate, and in the field, and we just didn’t quite put it all together this weekend.”

The Buffs only connected on five hits over the two games on Saturday, leaving too much weight to carry for the pitching staff. Although Colorado dropped the series and looked flat on both sides of the ball, the team still sits atop the division heading into more conference series.

“We are excited to see what the team can do when the guys start putting it all together,” Tee said. “If we can just put the ball in play more consistently and hit spots on the mound, we should be well set to take on Air Force and CSU in the next two series.”

The Buffs prepare to build on their undefeated conference record against the Air Force Falcons (3-1, Mid-Am West 2-0) next weekend, back at Scott Carpenter Park. Games one and two take place on Saturday, April 4, with the series finale on Sunday. All three games will stream on the Sko Buffs Sports YouTube channel.