• Box Score: Nebraska 8, UNK 1

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LINCOLN — Notable improvement marked the latest round on the pitcher's mound Wednesday for three Nebraska freshmen.

Tyler Niederklein, Ryan Hander and Luke Bublitz combined to fire seven shutout innings, allowing one hit as the NU baseball team beat Division-II University of Nebraska at Kearney 8-1 before 1,021 in the home opener at Haymarket Park.

“Those are exciting outings for three freshmen,” coach Mike Anderson said. “It doesn't matter who we're facing. They did a good job.”

Niederklein, a 6-foot-2 right-hander from Millard West, started and threw three innings. Hander and Bublitz followed with two hitless innings apiece.

The trio made debuted on Feb. 26, surrendering six runs on five hits in three innings of a 21-9 Nebraska win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. They hadn't pitched since.

Niederklein began his first outing two weeks ago by hitting a batter. His next pitch left the stadium — a two-run homer.

The performance Wednesday went much more smoothly. NU (4-7) spotted Niederklein a lead on Kyle Bubak's sacrifice fly to score Patric Tolentino in the second inning. The Huskers added four runs in the fourth inning as Tyler Farst scored two with a two-out single and three more in the fifth.

An All-Nebraska selection as a senior last season, Niederklein got the ball against UNK because of his strike-throwing ability, pitching coach Eric Newman said. Newman said he thought Niederklein “gave in” during his first outing of the season but learned from the mistake.

“I'm sure I'll probably remember it, the first time I've pitched on that mound,” Niederklein said. “I think that's what this team needs, for guys to come in right away and throw strikes, get outs.

Newman compared Niederklein's approach on the mound to ex-Husker Johnny Dorn, who won 37 games — second most in school history — from 2005 to 2008

“Just his competitiveness and his desire,” Newman said. “You don't want to put those expectations on a kid after one start, but I see a lot of those same qualities. He's firm. He keeps the ball down in the strike zone.”

Bubak finished with a career-best three RBIs and collected two hits, matching Farst, Cody Asche, Patric Tolentino and Khiry Cooper.

Chase Adams struck out the side in the eighth for Nebraska before the Lopers dinged closer Mike Nesseth for a run on three hits in the ninth. Andrew Haake's two-out single to score Blake Cover ruined the NU shutout bid.

Nebraska is scheduled to continue its five-game homestand Friday at 1:35 p.m. against Houston Baptist.

Junior Casey Hauptman will start the series opener. The right-hander from Millard South owns a 1.69 earned-run average in 16 innings over four relief appearances. Hauptman replaces sophomore Sean Yost atop the rotation. Sophomore Michael Mariot and freshman Tom Lemke are also set to pitch this weekend against Houston Baptist.

Contact the writer:

402-444-1031, mitch.sherman@owh.com

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