When Michigan baseball takes the field this weekend, it will be playing for a berth in the Big Ten tournament and to fulfill a season-long goal.

The Wolverines will take on Nebraska (14-7 Big Ten, 24-26 overall) in both teams’ final series of the year.

Michigan (12-9, 27-24) is currently tied with Illinois for fifth in the Big Ten standings. In order to qualify for the Big Ten tournament, the Wolverines must finish sixth or better in the standings, determined by winning percentages because of several game cancellations.

“Our goal all along from the start of the season has been to win the Big Ten conference tournament,” said Michigan coach Erik Bakich to WTKA radio last week.

In addition to it being a season-long goal, it will also signify the resurgence of Wolverine baseball.

“It was definitely one of the team goals coming in,” said senior outfielder Patrick Biondi to the athletic department on May 15. “Especially with the last couple of years we’ve had, I would like to get the program back on track before I leave. We have a good chance to take a step back in that direction.”

The team that poses the biggest threat to Michigan’s postseason hopes is Michigan State, as it is just five percentage points behind the Wolverines and Illinois in the Big Ten standings. In addition, the Spartans finish their season by playing Purdue — a team that has been at the bottom of the standings all year.

But Michigan is only focusing on what is in front of it: the Cornhuskers. Nebraska is currently tied for second in the Big Ten standings and will also be looking to secure a spot in the Big Ten tournament this weekend. The Cornhuskers feature a potent offense that has four hitters hitting better than .300 on the season and two more with a batting average of at least .295. As a team, Nebraska sports a solid .287 batting average.

The Wolverines will look to counter the Cornhuskers’ offense with the usual trio of left-handers: freshman Evan Hill, sophomore Trent Szkutnik and redshirt junior Logan McAnallen. Michigan will continue to use the services of right-handed pitchers — senior Kyle Clark, sophomores Matt Ogden and James Bourque and freshman Jacob Cronenworth in relief.

Opposite these pitchers, Nebraska will start senior Tyler Niederklein and sophomores Kyle Kubat and Aaron Bummer. Kubat is the ace of the staff with a 1.99 ERA and a 4-0 record, while Bummer has a respectable 2.72 ERA and is 2-1 on the season.

A big challenge for the Cornhuskers’ pitching staff will be to contain the red-hot bat of junior outfielder Michael O’Neill. In his last 10 games, O’Neill is hitting .409 with three doubles, 10 runs scored and six RBI. On the season, he leads the Big Ten in doubles with 17 and is second in hits with 78.

If Michigan’s pitching staff is able to neutralize Nebraska’s hitters and its own hitters are able to do some damage at the plate, the Wolverines will find themselves right where they want to be — in the Big Ten tournament.