Collegiate Baseball Ranks Nebraska Recruiting Class No. 15

Nebraska's incoming baseball recruiting class has been ranked No. 15 nationally by Collegiate Baseball in its annual rankings released Tuesday. The rating marks the second straight year the publication has tabbed the Husker recruiting class in the top 15.

The Husker recruiting class is highlighted with talent on the mound, including two pitchers who were drafted in the first 11 rounds of the 2010 MLB Draft.

In-state product Logan Ehlers of Nebraska City will begin his collegiate career this spring after claiming back-to-back state Gatorade Player of the Year honors. At 6-2 and 200 pounds, Ehlers was drafted in the eighth round by the Toronto Blue Jays. The left-hander finished his prep career with a 8-2 record with a 0.27 earned-run average in 2010 while striking out 186 batters. As a junior, Ehlers was a perfect 10-0 on the mound with a 0.20 earned-run average, as he fanned 161 hitters and allowed only nine hits.

Right-handed pitcher Jon Keller, an 11th-round pick by the Seattle Mariners, compiled a 6-2 record with a 1.75 earned-run average as a senior at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Keller struck out 93 hitters in 56 innings and was named the captain of Iowa's Class 4A all-state team. A threat at the plate as well, Keller was his team's cleanup batter and batted a team-best .473 with six home runs and 37 RBIs.

A native of Gunter, Texas, right-hander Brandon Pierce was one of the top pitchers in the Lone Star State at Gunter High School before the Pittsburgh Pirates selected the hurler in the 26th round. Pierce was 39-4 as a starter in his career and struck out 267 hitters with a 1.50 earned-run average over his final two seasons. A two-time first-team all-state selection, Pierce also hit .475 at the plate as a senior with 13 home runs.

Nebraska's 15th-ranked recruiting class trailed only Texas among the Big 12 schools, as the Longhorns were 13th.

A date for October's annual Red-White Series will be announced in the coming days.

Collegiate Baseball's 2010 Recruiting Results                
(As of Sept. 21, 2010)                
1. Louisiana State
2. San Diego
3. Oregon        
4. UCLA  
5. Florida          
6. Georgia Tech
7. South Carolina      
8. Cal. St. Fullerton    
9. Arizona State      
10. Vanderbilt        
11. Stanford        
12. Oregon State       
13. Texas            
14. Arkansas        
15. Nebraska        
16. Kentucky        
17. Florida State
18. Mississippi State    
19. Rice            
20. Central Florida    
21. Mississippi        
22. Southern California    
23. Miami (Fla.)        
24. Wichita State      
25. North Carolina    
26. Auburn            
27. Oklahoma State      
28. Fresno State       
29. Louisville        
30. Clemson            
31. Oklahoma        
32. Oral Roberts        
33. California        
34. Virginia        
35. U.C. Irvine        
36. San Diego State    
37. Alabama            
38. New Mexico        
39. Texas Christian    
40. Maryland
Illinois State