Barr, Debiec Control Mound as U-M Claims Series Opener Over Nebraska

Friday, March 20

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

11-9, 1-3

Nebraska

16-6, 3-1

Nebraska

Michigan

Kurt Barr (Michigan Photography)

Barr, Debiec Control Mound as U-M Claims Series Opener Over Nebraska

3/20/2026 7:58:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Conor Stemme

» Michigan edged Nebraska, 2-1, to secure its first conference win of the season.
» Kurt Barr and Max Debiec teamed up for eight consecutive scoreless innings to close it out.
» Drew Culbertson and Evan Haeger each drove in a run in the win.
» Greg Pace Jr. added a single, a walk and a stolen base in the contest.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball team opened its weekend series with a 2-1 win over Nebraska on Friday (March 20) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

Michigan (11-9, 1-3 Big Ten) carried a one-run lead into the ninth inning with Max Debiec on the mound. Nebraska (16-6, 3-1 Big Ten) led off the frame with a single, but Debiec induced a 6-4-3 double play to quickly erase the threat. The Cornhuskers followed with a hit-by-pitch and a single to put the tying run in scoring position, but a groundout to Matthew Ossenfort at first base ended the game, stranding two runners.

Nebraska struck first with a sacrifice fly in the opening inning, but Kurt Barr (3-2) settled in from there, retiring the side. The right-hander delivered six consecutive scoreless innings to close his outing, finishing with 10 strikeouts over seven innings while allowing just six hits and no walks.

The Wolverines evened the score in the second inning. With two outs, Greg Pace Jr. drew a walk, stole second, and came around to score on an RBI single from Drew Culbertson.

U-M took the lead an inning later, as Carson Luna opened the third with a single. After a flyout and popout, Elie Kligman moved Luna to third base with a single. Evan Haeger tallied his 10th RBI of the season with a two-out single, scoring Luna.

After the third inning, Michigan managed just two additional baserunners, both via walks. Nebraska threatened in the middle innings, leaving runners on in both the fourth and fifth, but Barr closed his outing with back-to-back 1-2-3 frames in the sixth and seventh.

Six different Wolverines recorded hits, while Colby Turner and Pace each reached base twice via walks. Barr threw 108 pitches in the start, and Debiec secured the save with two scoreless innings.

Michigan will continue the series on Saturday (March 21) at 2 p.m. at Ray Fisher Stadium. The game will be streamed on B1G+.