MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — Nebraska’s potent lineup, led by red-hot right fielder Drew Grego, visits Minnesota on Thursday night as the Cornhuskers open a three-game Big Ten series at Siebert Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CDT.

Nebraska (38-14) enters with the conference’s best overall record and has won six of its last seven games, including an 8-4 victory at Creighton on Tuesday. Grego, a senior, starred in that win with a 3-for-5 performance and three RBIs. Over his last five contests spanning the Creighton game and a weekend sweep of Iowa, Grego is 10-for-19 with five RBIs.

Minnesota (30-20) has dropped two straight, most recently an 8-5 loss to Michigan on Sunday. The Golden Gophers will rely on right-handed reliever Ben Gregory, who delivered three scoreless innings with four strikeouts against the Wolverines in that game. Gregory has not allowed an earned run in his last 5 2/3 innings across three appearances.

The weather forecast calls for clear skies and temperatures in the low 70s.

Interstat’s game simulator projects an 8-7 Nebraska victory, and the company’s ELO system gives the Cornhuskers a 65.5% probability to win.

Nebraska’s offense ranks among the Big Ten leaders in scoring, averaging more than seven runs per game. Minnesota’s pitching staff has been inconsistent, allowing 18 runs in two of the three games against Michigan last weekend. The teams will play again Friday and Saturday at the same venue.

Drew Grego’s recent surge includes multi-hit games against Iowa on May 9 (2-for-4, RBI) and May 10 (2-for-4, RBI). He also went 1-for-2 in a 10-0 win over the Hawkeyes on May 8 and was 1-for-3 with an RBI in a 1-2 loss at Ohio State on May 1.

Ben Gregory, a junior, has appeared primarily in relief this season. His outings against Penn State (0.2 IP, no runs, one strikeout on May 3) and Northwestern (2.0 IP, three hits, two earned runs on April 26) show flashes of effectiveness.

Nebraska’s Cooper Katskee (5.2 IP, three earned runs, four strikeouts) and Ryan Harrahill (2.0 IP, no runs, two strikeouts) combined for strong work on the mound against Creighton.

The series has implications for the Big Ten standings, with Nebraska leading the conference and Minnesota looking to climb into the upper tier.