LINCOLN — Nebraska junior Casey Hauptman developed a new pitch early in this new baseball season.

It helped land Hauptman a new role, starting Saturday as he leads off the weekend pitching rotation at 12:05 p.m. for NU against Houston Baptist at Haymarket Park.

The right-hander from Millard South refined a two-seam fastball, using it to rank as the most consistent Husker on the mound through three weeks. A hard-luck loser in both of his decisions, Hauptman owns a 1.69 earned-run average in a team-high 16 innings over four relief appearances.

He’s allowed just one extra-base hit, and has struck out 13 while issuing one walk.

“He’s been good every time out,” pitching coach Eric Newman said.

A week before Nebraska (4-7) opens Big 12 play at third-ranked Texas, Hauptman said it’s no big deal to move from the bullpen to position of No. 1 starter. He started six games a year ago — five in conference play — among 21 appearances and made one start as a freshman in 2008.

“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing or what game it is on the weekend,” Hauptman said. “It’s just a game. Our guys are just told to go out there, throw strikes and compete.”

Hauptman has followed instructions well this spring, in part because of the two-seam fastball intended to dive before it reaches the plate. It’s a tick or two slower on the radar gun than his four-seam pitch, which Hauptman describes as “flat.”

Newman recommended the two-seamer late last spring in a bullpen session. The first time Hauptman threw it, nothing happened.

“But over time,” the pitcher said, “sticking with it, it worked.”

Hauptman sought improvement after posting a 4-6 mark with a 5.60 ERA last season — pedestrian numbers on a pedestrian staff. NU finished with a team ERA of 6.21 as six pitchers, Hauptman included, logged 50 to 65 innings.

There was no ace.

Maybe it can be Hauptman. He’s pitched like an ace out of the bullpen, though the Huskers lost all four games in which he appeared. Hauptman threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings to get Nebraska to the ninth inning of its season opener at Fresno State with a 5-3 lead. Mike Nesseth then allowed four runs.

Two days later, Hauptman tossed 4 1/3 innings as NU turned a three-run deficit into a three-run lead over the Bulldogs. The Huskers lost 10-9 in 11 innings.

He pitched the final three innings Feb. 27 against Rice, allowing one run on an eighth-inning double by All-American Anthony Rendon to take the loss. Undefeated UCLA then beat Hauptman Sunday after he threw six scoreless innings of relief as a leadoff single in the ninth led to a walk-off sacrifice fly surrendered by Nesseth.

“He showed me there that he really deserved a start,” Newman said. “He shut them down and not just for a couple innings. UCLA’s a good hitting team, and he kept it going.”

Hauptman switches assignments this weekend with sophomore Sean Yost, who was ineffective in two of three starts atop the rotation. Junior Michael Mariot is scheduled to pitch the second game of a doubleheader Saturday, and freshman Tom Lemke will pitch Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

Contact the writer:

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

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