Huskers Return Home for SDSU; Cal State Northridge

Nebraska (5-3-1) vs. South Dakota State (1-5)
Media Info
Live Radio: Selected Husker Sports Network stations and for free on the Internet at Huskers.com
Live Stats:  Huskers.com 
Live Video: HuskersNside (subscription required)
Television: None

Probable Starting Pitchers
NU-Casey Hauptman, So., RHP (1-0, 0.84 ERA) 
SDSU-Caleb Thielbar, Sr., LHP (0-2. 17.17 ERA)

This Week: The Huskers begin a five-game homestand at Hawks Field this week, as they host South Dakota State on Wednesday, March 4, at 1:35 p.m., before welcoming Cal State Northridge to Lincoln for a four-game series beginning Friday afternoon. The game against South Dakota State was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but inclement weather and cold temperatures forced postponement for a day. Season ticket holders and fans who had purchased tickets for Tuesday’s contest can use those tickets on Wednesday or also use them for general admission seats for any remaining regular-season game during the 2009 season.

On the Radio: Fans across Nebraska can listen to Greg Sharpe and Lane Grindle call all of the action this weekend on the Husker Sports Network - including KLIN 1400 AM in Lincoln and KRVN 880 AM in Lexington - and on the Internet at Huskers.com. Every game this season will be carried on Huskers.com and available to Husker Sports Network stations. Saturday’s games against Cal State Northridge will be internet-only broadcasts because of basketball conflicts.

On the Huskers: The Huskers return home following a 2-2 weekend in Huntsville, Texas. Nebraska has been in tight games early on, as seven of its first nine contests have been decided by two runs or less and three games have gone to extra innings. Junior first baseman Tyler Farst paces the Huskers with a .435 average to rank 10th in the Big 12 entering the week, while he also ranks in the top-10 in the league in doubles (four, fifth) and on-base percentage (.571, sixth). Freshmen Cory Burleson and Cody Asche have been swinging a hot bat as well, hitting .421 and .360, respectively on the year. In all, five Husker starters are above .300 through the first two weeks of the year.

Scouting South Dakota State
The Jackrabbits come to Lincoln with a 1-5 record after dropping a three-game series at Central Arkansas over the weekend. The Jackrabbits, who were picked to finish fourth in the Summit League preseason poll, went 22-27 last year, including a 9-11 mark in league action. SDSU’s interim coach is former Kansas shortstop Ritchie Price, who played for his father, Ritch, at Kansas.

SDSU, which is in the midst of an 18-game season-opening road trip, is led by catcher Tony Martin, who hit .365 with two homers and 23 RBIs last year. Martin is off to a hot start, hitting .423 with three RBIs. Outfielder Joel Blake leads the Jackrabbits with a .565 average and six runs scored. Stephen Turner (.400-0-5) and Jesse Sawyer (.348-1-4) are also hitting over .300 for SDSU in the early season.

The Jackrabbits bring back an experienced pitching staff, returning eight of 13 hurlers who saw time on the mound last spring. Left-hander Caleb Thielbar won a team-high five games in 2008, going 5-4 with a 5.94 ERA in 13 games, but is winless in his first two outings. He will start on Wednesday against the Huskers. Closer Kirby Morsching anchors the SDSU bullpen, going 3-5 with a 4.08 ERA and seven saves last year and has a 1.12 ERA in a team-high three appearances, allowing only six hits over eight innings of work.

Series History: Nebraska has won 14 of the 16 meetings between the two programs, including a 7-3 victory in Lincoln last season and has won all seven match-ups since the Jackrabbits moved to the Division I level.

Last season vs. SDSU: Jake Opitz’s two-run double in the fifth inning broke a 2-all tie, as Nebraska extended its win streak to 10 games with a 7-3 victory over South Dakota State. Opitz was one of two Huskers to drive in a pair of runs in the win, as Dan Johnston came off the bench to deliver a pair of RBIs ? the first two of his career ? and score twice. Craig Corriston tied his career high with three hits, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Mitch Abeita also chipped in a pair of hits for the victors. The Huskers relied on their youth, as seven freshmen saw extensive action, including four of Nebraska’s seven hurlers. Michael Mariot (1-0) earned his first collegiate win with an inning of relief, as no pitcher threw more than three innings, as the staff combined for 10 strikeouts and just one walk.

Wednesday's Starter
#18 - Casey Hauptman ? So. ? RHP ? 6-4 ? 214 ? Omaha, Neb. (Millard South)
Sophomore right-hander who will make his second career start on Wednesday against South Dakota State ? Has made three appearances this season, going 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA, as he ranks seventh in the Big 12 in ERA ? Tossed two innings of shutout relief against Missouri State on Sunday in his most recent appearance ? Earned the win in relief against North Dakota, going the final 3.1 innings and allowing one run in NU’s 10-6 win ? Dominated in a relief performance at Louisiana-Lafayette on Feb. 20, allowing one hit over a career-high 5.1 innings of work ? Fanned a career-best seven in that outing and retired the first 16 hitters he faced ? Spent the summer pitching for Hays (Kan.) in the Jayhawk League, going 5-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 13 appearances to earn second-team all-league accolades ? Tied for second in wins, ranked second in innings (61.2) and was third in strikeouts (51) for a Hays squad that went 35-17 and reached the National Baseball Congress World Series ? Was one of Nebraska’s top middle relievers in 2008, going 1-0 with a 4.34 ERA in 10 appearances ? Enjoyed a 16-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio and held opponents to a .235 average over 18.2 innings of work ? Enjoyed a stretch where he did not allow a run for 15.2 innings ? Earned his first career save against Creighton on May 13, fanning a career-high six hitters over four innings of one-hit relief in front of 14,680 at Rosenblatt Stadium ? Turned in another strong performance against Western Illinois on April 30, firing four shutout innings with three strikeouts to earn his first career win ? Made his first college start against Nebraska-Kearney on March 4, going three innings and allowing two first-inning runs before settling down, as Nebraska won 11-2 ? Was a two-time all-state selection at Millard South High School, posting a 6-2 mark with a 1.53 ERA as a senior, posting a 44-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 59.2 innings ? Earned All-Nebraska honors for the first time as a junior, when he went a perfect 7-0 with a 1.96 ERA ? Played basketball and football, where he was one of the best quarterbacks in the state as a senior ? Established school records for passing yards (2,034) and completions (166) as a senior en route to second-team all-state honors from both the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star.

Leading Off
?-Nebraska already has four come-from-behind wins this season, including three wins where the Huskers had to overcome at least a three-run deficit. The five-run comeback against Missouri State on Feb. 27, equaled NU’s largest comeback since the 2003 season. NU now has 103 come-from-behind wins under Mike Anderson since 2003.
?-Nebraska has shown a flare for the dramatic in 2009, winning three games in its last at-bat, including a five-run eighth inning against North Dakota on Feb. 25 and a six-run eighth inning against Missouri State on Feb. 27.  Four of the Huskers’ eight completed games have been decided in the last at-bat.
?-Cory Burleson’s four-hit effort against Sam Houston State on Feb. 28, marked the first time since 2005 that a Husker freshman had four hits in a game. Since 1999, only five other players have accomplished the feat (John Cole, Adam Stern, Matt Hopper, Drew Anderson and Andy Gerch). Burleson is the first true freshman to have a four-hit day since former Major Leaguer Drew Anderson in 2001.
?-A trio of Huskers are quickly climbing the Huskers’ career hit by pitch list. DJ Belfonte (31), Nick Sulllivan (29) and Jake Mort (28) now comprise half of the Huskers’ top-five list in career hit by pitches.
In all, the Huskers have been hit 16 times in the first nine games, putting the Huskers on track to get hit 97 times during the 55-game regular-season schedule.
?-The win over North Dakota on Feb. 25 improved the Huskers to 30-0 all-time at home in February and was the Huskers’ earliest home game since 1998.
?-The crowd of 3,280 against North Dakota on Feb. 25 was the fourth-largest opening day crowd in school history and the largest February home crowd in program history. 
?-Nebraska’s 15-inning season opener at Louisiana-Lafayette marked the fifth time since the start of the 2003 season that the Huskers have reached the 14th inning of a game. In addition, it is the Huskers’ longest road game since a 16-inning game at Iowa State in 1999.
?-Prior to this season, the last time NU opened a season with three consecutive one-run games was in 2002. The only other time in the program’s 100-plus year history was back in 1970.
?-Nebraska set a school and Big 12 record in the opener against UL-Lafayette, as five Husker pitchers combined for 22 strikeouts, breaking the school and conference mark of 21 set at Iowa State on April 18, 1999. Three of the top five strikeout performances have been under pitching coach Eric Newman over the past two seasons.
 ?-Nebraska has enjoyed a youth movement during the early portion of the season, as 13 players have seen their first action as Huskers during the first nine games. The group includes seven freshmen, four junior college transfers and a pair of sophomores who did not play because of injuries the past two seasons.
The group has been effective both offensively and on the mound for the Big Red. They have accounted for a .297 average with seven homers and 28 RBIs, while going 3-2 with both of the Huskers’ saves in 2009.
?-Nebraska has already played three extra-inning games in the first two weekends of the year. NU is 1-1-1 this year in extra frames and 15-9-2 (.615) in extra-inning contests since 2003. The highest amount of extra-inning games in a season this decade is five, set in 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2008.
?-Since the NCAA went to the 64-team format in 1999, Nebraska has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, which ties for seventh nationally in that time period. The only teams to earn more bids than Nebraska in that span are Cal State Fullerton, Florida State, Miami, Oral Roberts, Rice and Texas.
?-With his 12-strikeout effort against Sam Houston State on Saturday, Michael Nesseth joined an exclusive list of Husker pitchers. The only NU hurlers to fan more hitters in a game this decade are Shane Komine (5 times), Joba Chamberlain (twice), Johnny Dorn and Zach Kroenke (one time each).
?-The tie at Louisiana-Lafayette marked the second straight year that the Huskers have had a tie game after not having one since 1996.
?-Nebraska has won 122 of its last 123 games when taking a lead into the ninth inning and is 122-0-1 in that stretch dating back to the 2005 season. NU is 217-3-1 (.984) when leading after eight innings under Mike Anderson.

Nesseth Is Dominant in Second Start
One of the highlights of the Huskers’ weekend in Texas was a dominant performance by sophomore Michael Nesseth. The sophomore right-hander tossed six shutout innings, scattering three hits and recording a career-high 12 strikeouts. Nesseth’s performance was very similar to the second career start of another Husker right-hander who enjoyed a decorated career at NU and is currently in the Major Leagues.

Second Career Start as a Husker
Pitcher Opponent IP H R ER BB K Score
Chamberlain New Mexico 7.0 2 0 0 0 15 W, 12-0
Nesseth Sam Houston St. 6.0 3 0 0 4 12 W, 8-1

Bailey Earns Big 12 Honor
Junior Adam Bailey picked up an honor from the Big 12 Conference on March 2, as he was chosen as the league’s Player of the Week. He became the first Husker to be chosen Big 12 Player of the Week since Nick Sullivan last March.

Bailey hit .333 with three homers and 10 RBIs in five games, as six of his seven hits went for extra bases. He went 3-for-5 with a career-high six RBIs against North Dakota on Wednesday, as his RBI total was the most by a Husker in three years. Bailey had two hits, including a homer and a two-run triple, in Nebraska’s 14-12 comeback against Missouri State. Against Sam Houston State on Saturday, Bailey homered for the third time in four games and also went the final three innings on the mound to record his first save.

Three Named to All-Tournament Team
Three Husker baseball players were honored on March 1, as Cory Burleson, Adam Bailey and Mike Nesseth were named to the Hillcrest Ford/Bearkat Baseball Classic All-Tourney team.

Burleson led the Huskers with a .545 average, going 6-for-11 with four RBIs in four games. He became the first Husker freshman since 2005 to record a four-hit game, going 4-for-5 with a pair of RBIs against Sam Houston State. In his first start of the weekend, Burleson went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and scored twice in a 14-12 victory over Missouri State.

Bailey was chosen as the utility player, hitting .250 with two homers and four RBIs while also pitching three innings of relief for a save against Sam Houston State. Bailey went 2-for-5 with a homer and a triple against Missouri State on Friday, as his two-run hit provided the Huskers with the margin of victory in a 14-12 win.  Against SHSU, Bailey homered and then fired three innings of two-hit ball to collect his first save.

Nesseth was dominant against Sam Houston State, tossing six innings of shutout baseball in NU’s 8-1 win over the Bearkats. He established a career high with 12 strikeouts and allowed three singles in matching the longest outing of his career.

Weekend Recap:
Nebraska 14, Missouri State 12: Adam Bailey’s two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth inning broke a 12-all tie and capped a six-run inning, as Nebraska stunned Missouri State, 14-12, Friday afternoon. Bailey , who went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, provided the Huskers with the go-ahead margin, as his hit scored Jeff Tezak and Ben Kline. The Huskers overcame deficits of 5-0, 8-4 and 12-8 in posting their fourth come-from-behind victory. NU rapped out 12 hits, including two each from Bailey, Cody Asche, Cory Burleson and Kale Kiser, who combined for eight RBIs. Nick Sullivan drove in two runs, while everyone in the lineup scored at least once to help the Huskers to their third win in the last four contests. Kash Kalkowski allowed one hit over two innings and fanned three en route to his first career win.

St. Mary’s (Calif.) 7, Nebraska 5 (10 inn.): Cory Miller’s two-run double in the top of the 10th broke a 5-all tie, lifting St. Mary’s (Calif.) to a 7-5 victory over Nebraska Saturday afternoon. Miller’s one-out double to right against reliever Kash Kalkowski proved to be the winning margin, as the Gaels overcame a 3-0 deficit. Nebraska trailed 5-3 in the seventh before pushing across a pair of runs to force extra innings.  DJ Belfonte led Nebraska’s offensive attack by going 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored, as the Huskers could not take advantage of a strong performance by starter Erik Bird, who took a shutout into the seventh, but did not factor into the decision.

Nebraska 8, Sam Houston State 1: Behind a dominant effort from Mike Nesseth, Nebraska rolled to an 8-1 victory over Sam Houston State Saturday night. Nesseth (1-1) was outstanding in his second start as a Husker, allowing three singles over six shutout frames to earn his first victory of the year. The sophomore right-hander fanned 12 Bearkats, and didn’t allow a ball out of the infield until the fifth. He was backed by a Husker attack that racked out 15 hits, including four from freshman Cory Burleson and three from junior college transfer Kyle Bubak. Burleson went 4-for-5 with two RBIs, while Bubak collected his first three hits of the season and drove in a pair of runs.  Cody Asche had two hits, including a homer, and drove in three RBIs, while Tyler Farst had two hits and scored twice helping Nebraska (5-2-1) bounce back from a 7-5 10-inning loss to St. Mary’s (Calif.) earlier Saturday. Adam Bailey combined with Nesseth on a five-hitter, allowing an unearned run over three innings to collect the save while homering for the third time in four games.

Missouri State 3, Nebraska 2: Jordan Roualdes turned in a solid start, but Nebraska’s comeback bid fell short in a 3-2 loss to Missouri State Sunday afternoon. Roualdes (0-1) gave the Huskers’ third straight quality outing this weekend, allowed three runs on five hits over six-plus innings, but the Husker offense was held in check for most of the day by Missouri state starter Buddy Baumann and Pat Doyle, who combined to toss a six hitter for the Bears. Jeff Tezak and Kyle Bubak had two hits apiece, combining for most of the Huskers’ offensive output, while Kale Kiser and Tyler Farst drove in a run apiece, as the Huskers (5-3-1) played their fourth one-run game in nine contests.