No. 16 Huskers Play Host to Cal Poly on Tuesday and Wednesday - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site

Lincoln - The Nebraska baseball team looks to build off the momentum of a three-game weekend sweep over Kansas State, as the No. 16 Huskers (Baseball America) will play a pair of mid-week games against Cal Poly on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon at Hawks Field. Both games are slated for 4:05 p.m. starts and will be carried live on the Pinnacle Sports Network (check local stations for broadcast availability) with Jim Rose and Gary Sharp calling all the action. In addition, live video streams of both contests will be available on the Internet at HuskersNside.com, as the University of Nebraska Athletic Department and Omaha-based New Media Networks continue their unsurpassed Internet coverage of Nebraska baseball in 2003.

Nebraska comes into the week with a 14-6 record and looks to extend its seven-game home winning streak against the Mustangs (14-11-1). In all, the Huskers are 35-4 at Hawks Field since it opened last spring, including a 26-1 all-time mark against unranked foes.

The Mustangs come to Lincoln after splitting a pair of games with Dartmouth (2-5, 11-2) over the weekend, and will be looking for their first-ever win over the Huskers. Last May, NU swept the three games between the schools (5-3, 7-3, 5-2) and leads the all-time series 4-0.

Sophomore right-hander Phil Shirek will make his first start of the season on Tuesday against Cal Poly. The 6-3, 210-pounder from Minot, N.D., will make his seventh appearance of the season and comes into the game with a 0-0 record and a 1.80 ERA. Shirek, who was 4-2 with a 3.45 ERA in 18 appearances last season, has allowed one hit in his last four appearances, covering eight innings, and struck out three in two scoreless innings against Kansas State last Saturday. He will be opposed by Mustang ace Tyler Fitch (3-2, 4.08 ERA), who pitched seven innings against NU on May 10, 2002. In that start, Fitch allowed two runs on six hits, but did not factor in the decision, as NU scored twice in the ninth to overcome a 3-2 deficit.

On Wednesday, a pair of left-handers will square off as freshman Zach Kroenke (0-1, 3.38 ERA) will be opposed by Mustang senior Josh Kougl (0-4, 4.66 ERA). Kroenke, who will be making his second career start, went four innings in a 4-1 loss at No. 1 Rice last Tuesday, allowing three runs on 10 hits.

Offensively, the Huskers are hitting .303 as a team, with six everyday starters hitting above .300. Senior first baseman Matt Hopper leads the Big 12 with his .459 average and tops the circuit in homers (eight), on-base percentage (.585) and slugging percentage (.902). Catcher John Grose (.393-2-10), and outfielder Brandon Fusilier (.378-4-28) are also hitting over .350, as Grose is coming off an 8-for-10 weekend against Kansas State.

The Huskers will likely be without center fielder Jeff Leise for both games against Cal Poly, as he had seven stitches above his right eye. The senior co-captain suffered the injury wrestling around with Fusilier following yesterday