Husker Baseball: midweek update after Indiana State

The great news is that the Husker baseball team seems to be on a roll (overall 13-6). The maybe not so great news is that they still need to improve their offense and have only 13 weeks until the college world series. In reality that’s not really that bad.

One thing you can take away from yesterday’s win over Indiana State, 3-4, is that overall the team was patient at the plate. There were 8 times that the Huskers reached base by walks issued off of the Sycamores’ pitching staff. Only Tanner Lubach and Luis Alvarado didn’t get a free pass to first base.

Darin Erstad speaking with the media (photo Kelli Anne)

This is big time in small ball situations and especially when the scores are close and hits are hard to come by. Nebraska only managed 6 hits (compared to 8 by Indiana State) yesterday. In the 3rd inning Jake Schleppenbach reached base on a walk and later scored on a wild pitch. Jake Myers walked in the 7th and was later advanced by a wild pitch and then a balk, scoring on a single by Ryan Boldt. That’s 2 runs and the difference in winning or losing the game.

Huskers need their bats to keep improving. The 4 regulars in the lineup are above .300 (Boldt, Miller, Headley & Schleppenbach) but more of them will need to be there. As Coach Erstad says, “a full 1-9 grind” in order to really compete.

A St. Patrick’s Day pot of gold yesterday for the Huskers was junior shortstop Jake Placzek going 2 for 2 with a stolen base, two walks and scoring a run. It was only his second game this year a starter. If he keeps a batting average like that, he’ll be there more often.

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The Nebraska bullpen is still looking great. Jeff Chestnut ended up with the win after securing 2 innings with 4 Ks. Colton Howell completed a 1-2-3 inning in the 8th after only 6 pitches. Closer Josh Roeder completed an inning but didn’t seem his usual shut-down-self after giving up a double and a single. He came back like the veteran he is with 2 Ks in total for the inning however.

Next game is Wednesday at 1:35 to finish up against the Sycamores. Freshman Zack Engleken is getting the start and Lefty Trent Lunsford will be on the hill for Indiana State. GO BIG RED!!