Husker Corner
Fansided

Husker Baseball 2015: Bring on the popcorn!

By Kelli Anne

facebooktwitterreddit

Nebraska Cornhusker baseball team was 41-21 last season. They are a gritty team proven by the fact that in 16 of those wins they were come from behind wins. They finished second to Indiana in the B1G Ten tournament and were a LARGE part of setting the all time attendance record over the course of the tournament. They lost 3 Huskers to the draft last year Pat Kelly (2B, #350, 12th round to Minnesota), Aaron Bummer (LHP to Chicago White Sox #558, 19th round), and Zach Hirsch (LHP, #556, 19th round to Milwaukee). As head coach Darin Erstad begins the grind on his 4th season he has 8 seniors returning (not usual for baseball as they can get drafted as juniors) and some other young guns coming up through the ranks.

Leading the team from the mound is Senior Chance Sinclair who elected to return for his final season.Husker Ace and Senior righty pitcher Sinclair was also named to the 3rd team Louisville Slugger Preseason All-Americam last month. Last year he was a unanimous 1st Team All-Big Ten member finishing his season with a 2.15 ERA over 100.2 innings in 16 starts. Sinclair was a JUCO transfer from Neoso County CC where he also rewrote the record books. His 6′ 4″ and 170 lbs frame really needs to consistently hit the 90’s to put him ahead of the rest of college baseball pitchers and to really have success this year. Sinclair was also named as #43 on Perfect Game’s Top 100 College Seniors.

In September three Huskers were named to Baseball America’s top Prospect List after competing in the summer leagues: Sophomore Ryan Boldt, Senior pitcher Josh Roeder and Senior catcher Tanner Lubach.  Erstad commented that Ryan Boldt is the sophomore outfielder he would rely on at the plate the most in a clutch scenario.

The Huskers don’t lack for excitement either. Senior outfielder Austin Darby has some good hang time out in both center and out in right field. He was ranked #28 on Perfect Game Top 100 Seniors is anxious to get back into the swing of things as well.

Huskers kick off their baseball season on February 13, 2015 against UNLV. Like most northern teams, the Huskers won’t play any home games until March 10th. They will have a BIG test coming up March 8th when they will play the much loved LSU Tigers.

Jun 18, 2013; Omaha, NE, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Paul Mainieri makes a pitching change during their College World Series game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Dave Weaver-USA Today Sports

The Baton Rouge CWS favorites are coming into the season ranked 4th in the College Baseball Daily poll and with 5 players on the Perfect Game Top 100 Junior and Top 100 Seniors list: SS Alex Bregman, OFs Andrew Stevenson, Mark Laird, and Jared Foster, and infielder Connor Hale. (Bregman is listed at #8 btw). Nebraska landed at #38 on the preseason poll.  

More from Husker Corner

The matchup with the Tigers will happen at the Houston Classic at 11 am. SEC Network will be airing the game. Huskers will also take on Texas A&M that weekend on Saturday, March 7.  The full schedule for the Huskers at the Houston Classic can be found here.

It’s a shame that the Huskers won’t be filling up Hawks Field until mid March, but the Houston Classic is going to be a great measuring stick for the Huskers up to that point. Great competition builds better players and Husker Corner will have the baseball team covered over the course of the tournament. So stay tuned, get your gloves oiled up and broken in, spend some time in the cages and we’ll see you out at the ballpark. GO BIG RED!!!

Home/Nebraska Baseball