Nebraska Baseball vs Arkansas Razorbacks - The Return of Dave Van Horn
by Jon Johnston on Mar 18, 2008 12:50 PM CDT
in Nebraska Husker Baseball
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Dave Van Horn, the man who built Nebraska baseball into a legitimate college baseball team, (who, btw, provides some great stories to Curt McCeever in that article) returns today to Haymarket Park. Husker fans can give him a warm welcome and then hopefully we can cheer like hell when we kick the Razorbacks' butts.
I previewed Arkansas at the beginning of the season, and here's what I had to say:
In 2008, Arkansas will be looking to find pitchers after losing several last season to the MLB draft. Sean Seibert has 22 career starts, Dallas Keuchel has nine, but sophomores Stephen Richards and Scott Limbocker have only a single start apiece. Adding to the mix is that Seibert is not fully recovered yet from Tommy John surgery.
Returners third baseman Logan Forsythe (.347) and outfielder Casey Coon (.312) lead the offense, with fellow veterans second baseman Ben Tschepikow, shortstop Tim Smalling, catcher Jeff Nutt, and outfielders Sean Jones and Wayne Hrozek.
This is a mid-week game, so neither team will be throwing their weekend starters on the mound to win a non-conference game. Both teams will be throwing youngsters on the mound to see how well they do against quality competition.
The Cornhuskers will start Junior Dan Jennings on the mound. Jennings is 1-0, with a 3.78 ERA. This is Jennings' fourth start of the year and only his fifth career start. He'll be going against Junior Mike Bolsinger who is also 1-0, with a 3.75 ERA.
Neither team has announced a starter for Wednesday's game, because neither can be sure how their Tuesday starters will fare, nor how many bullpen pitchers will be available come Wednesday.
Arkansas comes into the series at 12-5, having won eleven of their first twelve games. Their losses have come to Texas A&M and Georgia, and a two-game series sweep by Arizona State. They barely beat Kansas 2-1, and their wins have come against mediocre competition.
Offensively, Nebraska comes in with a team batting average at .304. Bryce Nimmo, Mitch Abeita, and Jake Optiz lead the team with .357, .356, and .355, respectively.
The Razorbacks are at .312 overall, with Brett Eibner, Ben Tschepikow, and Andy Wilkins hitting .412, .380, and .371, respectively. Aaron Murphree is hitting .364, but has hit an amazing 13 homers and 31 RBI's so far this season. Last week, Murphree collected national player of the week honors aftter hitting eight home runs in five games, with a .524 batting average, 15 RBI's, and scoring 13 runs (gasp!).
This is a big series for both teams. Arkansas needs to pick up a 'name' win, while Nebraska has a chance for our young pitchers to prove themselves against a good midweek opponent and keep the winning streak going.
You can consider this a game day thread if you like. I hope to be listening to the game on huskers.com and following live stats.
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we're underway
Jennings runs the pitch count to full, then hits the lead-off hitter for Arkansas.
Next up is Logan Forsythe.... a member of Team USA over the summer, he pops up for an out to Nimmo, runner does not advance.
whooeee
rough start for Arkansas, as Belfonte got to first on an error, then advanced to 2nd on a balk, then third on a single by Jake Mort.
Belfonte scores on a sacrifice fly by Optiz, so Nebraska takes an early lead.
Mort is at first, with Abeita at the plate.
now
a steal by Mort to second.
the sac fly by Optiz wasn't deep... Arkansas didn't get the ball in real fast.
i love
listening to the crowd at Haymarket. Always into the game, even moreso today because of Dave Van Horn.
Arkansas
is on the board now....
Murphree has scored now as Abeita doesn't get the tag at home.
So.. tied 1-1.
lead off walk, strike out, fielder's choice, and a single so far in this inning to get the run in.
another
walk for Dan Jennings....
Husker pitching coach requires a mile for every walk from his pitchers... so Jennings has earned two miles already this inning.
I guess you'd better like running or be damned good at throwing strikes. And I guess that's the point, ain't it?
Corriston
singles to first.... not sure if that's a hit or an error.
they gave him a hit. sixth game hitting streak for Corriston.
Sullivan homer!
Nick Sullivan gets his first home run of the year, Nebraska takes a 3-1 lead. Hit it out over right field.
I'm listening in today
I'm working at home with the game in the background. I will be pulling for the Huskers out of Big-12 brotherhood. This is a huge mid-week series for these two programs RPI wise.
cool
kind of nice having this whole internet thing available.
I'm in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, sitting in a server room. Good thing for laptops and ear phones.
New pitcher already for Arkansas... Sam Murphy.
by Jon Johnston on Mar 18, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Arkansas beat Kansas 2-1 earlier this year.
A very good game. Wally Marciel (the Round Mound of Shut Down) pitched a hell of a game for the Hawks, but they just couldn't get anything going against the Hog hurlers.
Who does NU play this weekend? KU will be in Florida playing miscellaneous teams all week. Eight games in five days. I’m hoping for seven wins.
A shame for you the game is in Lincoln. Have you ever seen the RBI Girls at Arkansas?
RBI Girls
I think I've seen them on a web site... but if you have a link, by all means share it.
We have Oklahoma this weekend, so maybe we'll find out more about ourselves and one of those Okie teams.
by Jon Johnston on Mar 18, 2008 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Arkansas baseball
Here is a You-Tube video about Arkansas Baseball game day atmosphere. Really worth watching, even if you don't love the Hogs. There is some footage of the RBI Girls. Looks like a nice fun part of the whole game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOF9a...
Here is one pic posted at the College Baseball Dugout (a petty good national forum):
Tough inning for the Huskers there. Looked like they were ready to add on.
i'll
watch that later tonight. :)
by Jon Johnston on Mar 18, 2008 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions
error
by Arkansas...
runners advance as Murphy (pitcher) throws to second, where the second baseman was not.
well
poo.....
Leavitt makes a diving catch in right field to end the inning, as Kline flies out.
I
last saw Dave Van Horn last year (I think) at the Minnesota Dairy Queen Classic. His catcher wasn't having a very good game... Dave was not enthralled with his team's play, as if I remember right, they were pretty lackadaisical at the time.
He can be pretty fiery sometimes, that Van Horn guy. Fun to watch.
okay
top of the 8th. Jennings has a career- high for K's so far, up to six now.
Career-high eight innings for Jennings as well.
Huskers still lead 3-1. Arkansas has committed three errors thus far.
so
what would be prudent here... stay w/Jennings, or bring in Nesseth and let him get tome time?
or is that even an issue?
Third Time
that Coon has hit into a double play! Boy, is his ass going to be burning tonight when Van Horn gets hold of him.
Jennings is still in, one out away from a complete game.
that is it!
6-1 - Dan Jennings gets a complete game...!!!!
That's nice stuff, especially against a good Arkansas club. Two walks, struck out seven, five hits.
Whoeeee!
Four double plays by the husker defense....
amen
to that.
Before the season started, I was wearing great things about new pitching coach Eric Newman. Now I can see why.
What a difference a year makes. Still, it's early.
by Jon Johnston on Mar 18, 2008 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions
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