Posts by Jon Nyatawa

Just a bunch of leftover takes on Thursday’s competitive game. Great pitching and some clutch hitting by two of the more resilient teams in the conference.

Comments from both Nebraska and Ohio State representatives are below…

DARIN ERSTAD

On the lessons learned: “I use this — the feelings and emotions they’re having, being so close and not being able to come out with a victory — (to show) just how important every rep is that you work on. And how much work you put in, in the offseason. Those are the things that it’s for. It’s that feeling, you don’t want to have that. That’ll make you fight and work even more. It’s tough, but at the same time, it’s something you’ve got to learn …

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In the last four weeks, the Huskers have won two games in a row just once. Six wins and eight losses. Not necessarily the consistent type of baseball they’d like to see.

And even that mini-winning streak (two games) was incredibly arduous, perhaps maybe even fortuitous. NU beat Minnesota 8-0 on May 12, and two days later it blew a huge lead and barely held on for an ugly 12-9 win over Creighton.

Now Nebraska needs a new streak at the most critical time of the year. After beating up on Michigan 11-2 in the Big Ten tournament, the Huskers face No. 2 seed Ohio State at 3:35 p.m. Thursday.

In coach Darin Erstad’s mind, it comes down to starting pitching. Stringing together quality starts …

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Below is a sampling of what the Husker players and coaches had to say after beating Michigan 11-2 and advancing in the Big Ten tournament.

Nebraska plays Ohio State at 3:35 p.m. Thursday. Plenty more on NU’s first-round win to come on Omaha.com. Stay tuned.

DARIN ERSTAD

On the performance of Kyle Kubat (7 IP, 1 H, 6 K): “It’s pretty much what he does. He pounds his fastball in to righties, it opens up the whole plate. He’s able to throw his changeup in any hitter’s count he wants. And he competes. … I thought his breaking ball was as sharp as it’s been. He doesn’t throw a ton of them, but you throw a wrinkle in and it’s a pretty effective three-pitch mix.”…

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It took a while for the disappointment to fade after Nebraska’s 19-9 loss to Michigan in its season finale. But then the Big Ten tournament bracket was released.

The Wolverines spoiled the Huskers’ senior day, won a critical three-game series and ruined NU’s shot at a first-round bye. And they weren’t polite about it.

So that’s why the third-seeded Huskers have a little extra motivation — beyond the obvious — when they take the field against No. 6 seed Michigan at 3:35 p.m. Wednesday.

Said senior Chad Christensen: “It’s a good chance to redeem ourselves from the weekend.”

NU coach Darin Erstad’s looking forward to seeing how his team responds.

“It’s fresh in their minds, the butt-whooping they gave us,” Erstad said. “Our guys took …

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It’s official. Nebraska is the No. 3 seed in this year’s conference tournament at Minneapolis’ Target Field, set to face off against the same team that left Lincoln Saturday with a convincing 19-9 win.

The Huskers will play No. 6 seed Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten tournament at 3:35 p.m. Wednesday. No. 4 Minnesota plays No. 5 Illinois in the other Wednesday match-up.

Top-seeded Indiana, champs for the first time since 1949, and No. 2 seed Ohio State both have first-round byes. If NU were to beat the Wolverines Wednesday, it would play the Buckeyes at 3:35 p.m. Thursday.

A loss Wednesday, and Nebraska would drop into the loser’s bracket — which is essentially a death sentence for any team …

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Combine Nebraska’s unpredictable nature with the extended gloom of winter and you’re left with an understandably disappointing set of circumstances for NU baseball fans hoping to enjoy a day at the ballpark.

Maybe this weekend makes up for it, though.

The Huskers have had just two home crowds (out of 16) eclipse the 4,000-mark. They had 18 of those 4K-plus audiences last year (out of 30).

But starting with Thursday’s series opener, Nebraska’s playing for a regular season conference title — the Huskers could win it outright with two losses by Indiana and one by Minnesota (More specifics on that here). Meanwhile, the Wolverines (tied for fifth place right now) need to secure a spot in the Big Ten tournament. And hey, and …

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Junior right-hander Christian DeLeon (elbow soreness) will miss Nebraska’s final series of the regular season against Michigan, a tough blow for a team that needs a strong finish.

DeLeon left early during Friday’s start at Minnesota after warming up to start the seventh inning.

Said coach Darin Erstad: “I saw him start to really kind of pace around the mound. His whole tempo went down in his warm-up pitches. … He said he was a little bit sore.” But there is nothing “structurally wrong” with the arm, Erstad said.

DeLeon will be re-evaluated after he pitches a bullpen session this weekend.

Nebraska’s new starting rotation against Michigan: LHP Kyle Kubat, LHP Aaron Bummer and RHP Tyler Niederklein. The Huskers (with some help) do still have …

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The Huskers have three conference games left, and they could win the Big Ten regular season championship. Yep, the team that started the year 0-7 and lost two pivotal conference series at home still has a legitimate title shot.

Seriously.

The Big Ten race has come down to the final weekend in each of the last three seasons. But it’s never been as crazy as this.

No worries, though. We’ll sort it out together. First, the updated league-only standings, and then a few reference points.

>> Seven …

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This certainly was brought up at some point last year while Pat Kelly torched his home-state school, but it’s hard to believe that Minnesota never tried to recruit the Husker sophomore second baseman.

Kelly’s from Red Wing, Minn., about an hour outside of Minneapolis. Yet, never got a look from the Gophers.

“I don’t really know what to think about it,” he said. “I don’t know that I would have went there, but just to know that the hometown school was recruiting you would have kind of been nice.”

Kelly insists it’s not a big deal — though you wouldn’t know it by the numbers he put up in four games against Minnesota last year. He had eight hits in 17 at-bats (.470), homering twice …

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Safety Jason Hall made an oral commitment to Nebraska Wednesday night, becoming the second member of the Huskers’ 2014 recruiting class.

Hall’s pledge was reported by multiple major recruiting services Wednesday.

He’s a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive back out of Grand Prairie, Texas. Nebraska was the first program to offer him a scholarship, which reportedly came about two weeks ago.

Hall also had an offer from North Texas, but he told ESPN.com that Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Ole Miss were among the schools showing interest lately. He’s not yet ranked by the major recruiting websites. He was a Class 5A honorable mention all-district performer for South Grand Prairie High School last fall.

Hall joins Lincoln Southeast’s Luke Gifford as the two recruits who currently make up …

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