Nebraska Baseball vs Arkansas Razorbacks - The Return of Dave Van Horn
Nebraska versus Arkansas Preview
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.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 1:10 PM CDT 0 recs
Coon
for Arkansas hits into a double play to Optiz at third,
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 1:18 PM CDT 0 recs
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.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 1:21 PM CDT 0 recs
now
a steal by Mort to second.
the sac fly by Optiz wasn't deep... Arkansas didn't get the ball in real fast.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 1:22 PM CDT 0 recs
Abeita
moves Mort to third, Abeita thrown out at first.
Nimmo up now.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 1:24 PM CDT 0 recs
i love
listening to the crowd at Haymarket. Always into the game, even moreso today because of Dave Van Horn.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 1:32 PM CDT 0 recs
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.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 1:33 PM CDT 0 recs
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?
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 1:35 PM CDT 0 recs
K
Jennings gets two K's, two walks, and gives up a run.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 1:36 PM CDT 0 recs
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.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 1:39 PM CDT 0 recs
Sullivan homer!
Nick Sullivan gets his first home run of the year, Nebraska takes a 3-1 lead. Hit it out over right field.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 1:41 PM CDT 0 recs
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.
by James Quinn on Mar 18, 2008 1:45 PM CDT 0 recs
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 corn blight on
Mar 18, 2008 1:54 PM CDT
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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?
by James Quinn on
Mar 18, 2008 2:08 PM CDT
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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 corn blight on
Mar 18, 2008 2:12 PM CDT
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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.
by James Quinn on
Mar 18, 2008 2:20 PM CDT
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3-1
after three, Huskers hit into a double play to end the third inning.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 1:59 PM CDT 0 recs
working
on a big inning..... runners at first and second with one out.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 2:14 PM CDT 0 recs
error
by Arkansas...
runners advance as Murphy (pitcher) throws to second, where the second baseman was not.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 2:15 PM CDT 0 recs
well
poo.....
Leavitt makes a diving catch in right field to end the inning, as Kline flies out.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 2:20 PM CDT 0 recs
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.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 2:24 PM CDT 0 recs
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.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 3:05 PM CDT 0 recs
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?
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 3:06 PM CDT 0 recs
another
K for Jennings to end the inning.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 3:08 PM CDT 0 recs
Mitch
Abeita! Three run homer in the bottom of the 8th!
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 3:21 PM CDT 0 recs
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.
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 3:30 PM CDT 0 recs
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....
by corn blight on Mar 18, 2008 3:32 PM CDT 0 recs
Great game for Jennings
Complete games are so rare in college baseball.
Huskers are on fire.
by James Quinn on
Mar 18, 2008 3:40 PM CDT
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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 corn blight on
Mar 18, 2008 4:51 PM CDT
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