From a sluggish start to a stadium-shaking finish, the 2025 Big Ten Baseball Tournament at Charles Schwab Field built momentum with every pitch. What began as a quiet few days under gray skies turned into a full-blown red-out as Nebraska stormed its way to the championship—capping the week with a 5–0 shutout of UCLA in front of more than 15,000 fans.
The tournament’s early energy was a bit flat. The Michigan vs. Illinois opener had solid back-and-forth action, with Illinois pulling out a 6–5 win in extras. But the gloomy weather kept things quiet, even with a strong Michigan turnout. Later that day, Rutgers and Indiana played a quieter game with little noise or excitement from either side.
But the real spark on Day 1 came during Nebraska’s opening game against Michigan State. After falling behind early and trailing by multiple runs, the Huskers battled back, scoring late to force extra innings. Then Robby Bolin delivered a walk-off single in the 10th inning to seal a thrilling 5–4 victory. That comeback energized the team and the crowd—without that win, Nebraska’s championship run wouldn’t have been possible.
Day 2 carried that newfound energy forward. Penn State knocked off Washington 5–3 in a more emotional matchup, with their starter showing real fire to escape a late-inning jam. But the true buzz came during the nightcap between Iowa and Rutgers. Iowa fans showed up in big numbers, filling the stands and bringing a lively atmosphere. Players signed autographs before the game, and kids crowded the rails to catch a glimpse. It finally felt like a true postseason environment as Iowa won a tight battle, 4–3, to clinch their spot in the semifinals.
Day 3 featured four games, starting at 9 a.m. with a tight, competitive matchup between Michigan and UCLA. The Bruins defeated the Wolverines, 7–5, to advance to the semifinals before Penn State earned their second win and a spot in the semifinals with a 2–1 win over USC. Oregon took care of business in their first game of the tournament, defeating Michigan State, 4–2, before Indiana bested Iowa, 5–0.
After a long rain delay that halted play, Nebraska vs. Oregon was a turning point. The Nebraska fans packed Schwab Saturday morning, and the energy inside the park was unlike anything earlier in the week. Oregon came in as a top-ten team, but Nebraska dominated from start to finish, winning 7-3 to claim the final spot in the semifinals and a date with Penn State later that evening. With the crowd behind them, it felt like they had all the momentum before the game even started.
In the first of two semifinals, UCLA defeated Iowa 9–3 behind a dominant performance from Big Ten Player of the Year Roch Cholowsky. Highlighted by four RBIs, a pair of doubles, and his third home run of the weekend, Cholowsky propelled the Bruins to their program’s first Big Ten Championship game appearance—all in just their inaugural year in the conference.
Riding the momentum from their morning win, Nebraska returned to face Penn State and secured their spot in the championship with a 6–3 victory. After falling behind early, the Huskers responded with timely hits and lockdown bullpen work—highlighted by a clutch two-run homer from Gabe Swansen to punch their ticket to a second straight title game.
And then came Championship Sunday.
Walking into the stadium, it was clear who was in control. A red sea of Nebraska fans filled nearly every section, drowning out the handful of UCLA supporters. From the first pitch to the last out, the noise never stopped. Ty Horn threw eight dominant innings, holding UCLA to just three hits. Devin Nunez launched a two-run homer early, and the Huskers tacked on three more runs across the first three innings — more than enough to lock it down.
At one point, the crowd was so loud Horn had to cover his ears just to hear the catcher’s signs. That’s the kind of atmosphere it was—chaotic, electric, and completely one-sided.
UCLA had an impressive debut tournament overall, going 3–1 and producing the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in sophomore shortstop Cholowsky. But Sunday belonged to Nebraska, and the crowd made sure everyone knew it.
Throughout the week, one thing stood out: the players’ connection to the fans. Whether it was Iowa players giving autographs, or Nebraska’s entire team feeding off the home-state energy, there was a real sense of community in the stands. It turned what could’ve been just another neutral-site tournament into something unforgettable.
