Nebraska Baseball Beats Grand Canyon 9-1 for 3-0 Start

Will Jesske homers and drives in one as Huskers use strong pitching to win third straight game in Arizona

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Nebraska baseball team defeated Grand Canyon University 9-1 on Sunday night in Mesa, Arizona to improve to 3-0 on the young season. Sophomore right-hander Gavin Blachowicz struck out five batters over 4.2 innings to earn the win, while junior outfielder Will Jesske provided the offensive spark with a solo home run and an RBI single.

Why it matters

The Huskers' strong start to the season, including this convincing win over Grand Canyon, demonstrates the team's potential and builds momentum heading into conference play. Nebraska is looking to build on its success from last year and compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Jesske broke a scoreless tie in the third inning with a solo home run, and the Huskers added three more runs in the fourth to chase Grand Canyon's starting pitcher. Blachowicz worked around some early trouble to turn in a solid outing, and the Nebraska bullpen held the Antelopes to just one run the rest of the way. The Huskers tacked on four more runs in the eighth inning to pull away for the 9-1 victory.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 16, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona.
  • Jesske's home run came in the third inning.

The players

Gavin Blachowicz

The sophomore right-hander started the game for Nebraska and struck out five batters over 4.2 innings to earn the win.

Will Jesske

The junior outfielder hit a solo home run in the third inning to give Nebraska the lead, and he also added an RBI single later in the game.

Chase Olson

The Nebraska reliever came in and struck out three batters over 1.1 innings of work.

J'Shawn Unger

The right-handed reliever pitched two scoreless innings, striking out two, to help preserve the Huskers' lead.

Jace Ziola

The freshman pitcher closed out the game for Nebraska, pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

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What’s next

The Huskers will look to continue their strong start to the season as they prepare for their next game against a conference opponent.

The takeaway

Nebraska's convincing win over Grand Canyon showcases the team's depth and balance, with contributions from both the pitching staff and the lineup. If the Huskers can maintain this level of play, they will be a tough team to beat as they aim to make a run at the NCAA Tournament.