Huskers Host Annual Red-White Series

The Nebraska baseball program hosts its annual Red-White Series this week at Hawks Field. This year's three-game series begins Thursday at 3 p.m., with games also scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m.

This year's Red-White Series will be held in close proximity to the Nebraska-Texas football game, giving Husker fans a chance to see an early look at the 2011 Husker baseball team. Admission is free for all three games and a concession stand will be open at Hawks Field.

"We just want it to be highly competitive," Head Coach Mike Anderson said. "We're competitive as coaches and we're trying to create as much of a game-like atmosphere we as can. We've separated the teams evenly so we can make it as competitive as possible."

Nebraska returns several key players from its 2010 squad, including two of its top hitters in junior infielders Kale Kiser and Cody Asche. Kiser produced a .345 batting average last spring with 14 doubles, while Asche hit 10 home runs with a .310 average at the plate. The Huskers also bring back sophomores Kurt Farmer (.333) and Josh Scheffert (.310), giving NU four returnees who hit above .300 last season.

On the mound, the Huskers welcome back 11 pitchers who had game experience in 2009. Sophomore right-hander Tom Lemke returns after compiling a 5-6 record while striking out 43 hitters in 60.2 innings. NU also has experienced starters in senior Casey Hauptman, sophomore Tyler Niederklein and senior Khris Tate. Hauptman started four games but also had a primary late-inning role as he led the team in saves (3) and ranked second in appearances (23). Niederklein posted NU's best earned-run average at 3.09 while going 3-1 in eight starts, while Tate was 2-2 in 30.2 innings, striking out 24 hitters with a 4.99 ERA.

In addition, Nebraska's recruiting class was ranked 15th nationally by Collegiate Baseball, the second-straight year the publication has tabbed the Huskers in the top 15. Included in the class is a pair of pitchers who were drafted in the first 11 rounds of the 2010 MLB Draft, left-hander Logan Ehlers (8th round, Toronto Blue Jays) and right-hander Jon Keller (11th round, Seattle Mariners)

Anderson noted the highlight of fall practice has been the young pitching, although a lot of attention has also surrounded the new bat standards instituted by the NCAA to match BBCOR (Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution) rules. Beginning in January, a new bat performance called the BBCOR .50 standard will require aluminum and composite bats to perform more similar to wood.

"It's a major transition with the new bat rules," Anderson said. "It's going to change the college game this year and it's going to change the high school game the year after. It will be a pretty big transition. That's kind of been the talk of the fall."

The Huskers welcome a new addition to the coaching staff this season, as former Husker and two-time Major League All-Star Darin Erstad was named the volunteer hitting coach in July. Erstad was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1995 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft and went on to a 14-year professional career. At Nebraska, he was a 1995 first-team All-American and Big Eight Co-Player of the Year.