Columbia University
Nebraska
Lions Set for Four-Game Set at Nebraska
3/5/2020 11:57:00 AM | Baseball
Columbia heads to Lincoln to take on the Cornhuskers for the first time in program history this weekend.
LEADING OFF
COLUMBIA'S STATUS
The Lions continue their 13-game road swing in Lincoln this weekend after dropping four games at Fresno State. The Bulldogs jumped ahead early in each contest, but Columbia tried to mount rallies in each game. Julian Bury and Josh Nicoloff led the way offensively, with Bury going 8-for-16 with three runs and Nicoloff hitting .444 with a pair of RBI.
INSIDE THE SERIES
This weekend will be the first meetings between Columbia and Nebraska.
NEBRASKA'S STATUS
The Cornhuskers won their series finale with No. 12 Arizona State to snap a seven-game slide. Nebraska has taken on Baylor and played three games in San Diego against the Toreros, San Diego State and Arizona.
Leighton Banjoff has a team-high .370 batting average with two homers and nine RBI. Aaron Palensky and Cam Chick each have three dingers to go with 14 and nine RBI, respectively.
Trey Kissack has four relief appearances and has a 2.70 ERA with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work.
NEWS/NOTES
HEY, JULES
Senior Julian Bury got off to a strong start, hitting .500 with a homer and three runs scored at Fresno State last weekend. He is currently riding a 19-game hitting streak, which dates back to last season. In 2017, Bury was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year and a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American and was second team All-Ivy League in 2019. Bury is 13 hits shy from reaching the top-10 of Columbia's all-time hit list.
McGILL'S BACK
Another strong returner for the Lions is senior Liam McGill, who has been a staple in the middle of the lineup the past three seasons. A Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American in 2017, McGill has earned All-Ivy League honors in all three seasons with Columbia and hit .299 with four homers and 24 RBI in 2019. McGill is also approaching the top-10 in career hits as well.
NEW ROTATION, WHO DIS?
Columbia unveiled a brand new weekend rotation after losing Josh Simpson and Ethan Abrams to graduation and Ben Wereski to injury. Wereski was injured in his final start of the season at Penn and underwent Tommy John surgery over the summer. Billy Black, Will Geerdes and Saajan May started last weekend. Only May received a weekend start in 2018.
SIX LIONS MAKE COLLEGIATE DEBUTS
Columbia started a pair of first-years in the field last weekend. Andy Blake saw action at shortstop, replacing four-year starter and two-time All-Ivy Leaguer Joe Engel, and hit a homer in game one Saturday. Weston Eberly started three games behind the plate, and picked up a hit in his first career game Friday. Nate Beimel and Phil Healy each made relief appearances. Mike Decker came in as a replacement in two games at third base. Sophomore Will Geerdes start Saturday was his first as a Lion after missing last year due to injury.
DEUTSCHLAND DAN
Senior Dan Harrington competed with the German U23 team at the 2019 European Championships in August 7. Harrington was born in Kaiserslautern, moved to California at age 12 and holds dual citizenship. Two years ago, the right-hander earned a spot U23 European Championships and has remained in touch with the National Team's coaching staff to remain on the national team's radar. In 2019, Harrington emerged as a go-to reliever for the Lions and led the squad with 18 appearances and three saves. He did not allow a run in 12 of his final 15 appearances on the year and finished with 22 strikeouts over 26.2 innings of work.
MILESTONES AHEAD
Brett Boretti reached the 400-win plateau last season and his 293 wins with the Lions are third all-time, four away from moving into second place on the program's all-time win list. Boretti's 168 Ivy League wins and .596 winning percentage in conference play are both program benchmarks.
DID YOU KNOW?
Every student-athlete that has played for head coach Brett Boretti's in his 15-year tenure, and remained on Columbia's roster for at least three years, has either won an conference title or competed in an Ivy League Playoff Series.
