AP Sports Preview: Nebraska Hosts Kansas State

LINCOLN, Neb. (Interstat) — The Nebraska Cornhuskers (33-11) will host the Kansas State Wildcats (25-17) at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at Haymarket Park, with temperatures expected around 49 degrees under cloudy skies.

Nebraska enters the game having won three of its last four, powered by dominant pitching. Right-hander Gavin Blachowicz is expected to start after tossing 6.1 hitless innings with four strikeouts in a 3-0 win at Illinois on Sunday. Blachowicz (4-1) has allowed just one earned run over his last 11.1 innings across two appearances.

The Cornhuskers took two of three from Illinois over the weekend and have won six of their last nine. They are 19-4 at home this season.

Kansas State has lost four of its last five, including a 9-7 defeat Sunday to Kansas despite a standout performance from first baseman Ty Smolinski. He went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs, giving him three homers and seven RBIs over his last four games.

Smolinski is batting .321 with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs this season. He has hits in seven of his last nine games.

The Wildcats have struggled on the mound, allowing 10 or more runs in four of their last six losses. Their bullpen has been especially taxed after a 13-inning loss to Oklahoma State on April 12 and back-to-back high-scoring defeats against Kansas.

The teams have split two meetings this season. Nebraska won 14-9 on March 24 in Manhattan, Kansas, and Kansas State won 5-3 in 10 innings on Feb. 21 in Lincoln.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 7-4 Nebraska victory.

Nebraska opens a three-game series at Ohio State on Friday. Kansas State travels to West Virginia for a three-game set starting Friday.

Blachowicz has been dominant in his last two starts, combining for 11 innings, zero earned runs and 10 strikeouts. He has a 2.18 ERA in his last six appearances covering 21.2 innings.

Smolinski has power but has been inconsistent, going 0-for-7 with four strikeouts in games against Arizona before his outburst Sunday.

Nebraska is 7-3 in its last 10 games. Kansas State is 3-7 in its last 10.

Haymarket Park has been a difficult venue for visitors; Cornhuskers pitchers have a 2.89 home ERA this season.