Nate Blain returns to Lincoln for his second season, after establishing himself as key member of the Saltdogs starting rotation.  A 24-year-old, 6’0”, 210 lb., right-hander from Canton, Michigan, played four years at Madonna University (MI) and one year at Ball State University.  In five collegiate seasons, Blain compiled a 27-9 record with a 3.68 ERA.  Blain struck out 275 batters in 283.1 innings, pitching in 60 games, with 39 starts.

2025:  Blain appeared in 19 games for Lincoln with 16 starts.  He recorded one complete game shutout.  In 86.0 innings pitched, Blain went 5-4 with a 4.50 ERA.

2024: Pitched in 20 games with the Ball State Cardinals in the Mid-American Conference. Blain went 4-5 in 20 appearances with five starts, with one complete game. In 74.0 innings, Blain struck out 57 batters.

2023: Blain went 9-1 with a 3.55 ERA for the Madonna Crusaders of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. In 14 games, Blain started 13 with two complete games and one shutout. In 78.2 innings pitched, Blain struck out 78, earning First-Team All-Conference Honors. In the summer, Blain pitched for the Traverse City Pit Spitters of Traverse City, Michigan, in the Northwoods League. He went 4-2 with one save and a 2.08 ERA in eight games, with one start. In 26.0 innings, he struck out 19.

2022: Went 5-2 with a 3.20 ERA for Madonna. Blain started all ten of his appearances with five complete games and three shutouts. In 64.2 innings, Blain struck out 61, earning First Team All-WHAC Honors. In the summer, Blain went 1-0 for Traverse City with a 3.26 ERA in nine games with six starts. In 30.1 innings pitched, Blain struck out 21.

2021: Blain went 5-0 with a 2.16 ERA for Madonna. In eight appearances, Blain started five games, pitching 33.1 innings, while striking out 32, earning First Team All-WHAC Honors, as a freshman.

2020: In the COVID shortened year, Blain went 4-1 for Madonna, with a 4.08 ERA. In seven games, Blain started five, working 28.2 innings and struck out 42 batters. In the summer, Blain played for the Great Lakes Resorters, in Traverse City, Michigan, in the Northwoods League. He went 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA in three appearances.  In 2.2 innings, Blain struck out three batters.