American college baseball season
The 2008 Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team was Mike Anderson 's sixth year as head coach. The Cornhuskers played their home games at Hawks Field .
Potential, Promise, Proven is the Huskers motto for the year. While 8 pitchers from 2007 left for the draft, the 2008 Cornhuskers team is the youngest for Mike Anderson with 15 newcomers plus 5 of last years redshirts.[ 2] Nebraska plays 8 teams that made the 2007 NCAA tournament including 5 one seeds.[ 3] The baseball team was picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 by a vote of the league coaches with 36 points and no first place votes.[ 4]
2008 Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team
Players
Coaches
#
Pos.
Name
B/T
Height
Weight
Year
Home town
2
INF
Jake Mort
R/R
5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
Jr
Nebraska City, Nebraska
3
INF
Jake Opitz
L/R
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
188 lb (85 kg)
Sr
Littleton, Colorado
4
OF
D. J. Belfonte
L/L
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
So
Kansas City, Missouri
6
INF
Brett Sowers
R/R
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
187 lb (85 kg)
RS Fr
Englewood, Colorado
7
RHP
Tyler Rank
L/R
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
Fr
Rochester, Minnesota
8
RHP
Sean Yost
R/R
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Fr
Lincoln, Nebraska
9
INF
Dan Johnston
R/R
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
178 lb (81 kg)
Fr
Papillion, Nebraska
10
C
Drew Gray
R/R
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Jr
Archie, Missouri
11
RHP
Matt Freeman
R/R
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Fr
Omaha, Nebraska
13
C
Mitch Abeita
R/R
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
189 lb (86 kg)
Sr
Dallas, Texas
14
RHP
Thad Weber
R/R
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
204 lb (93 kg)
Sr
Friend, Nebraska
15
INF
Craig Corriston
R/R
5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Sr
Paris, Texas
16
INF
Andy Cotton
R/R
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
RS Fr
Lincoln, Nebraska
17
RHP
Joe Broekemeier
R/R
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
204 lb (93 kg)
RS Fr
Aurora, Nebraska
18
RHP
Casey Hauptman
R/R
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Fr
Omaha, Nebraska
19
INF
Jeff Tezak
S/R
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Sr
San Diego, California
20
INF
Ben Kline
R/R
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
181 lb (82 kg)
Fr
Omaha, Nebraska
21
OF
Nick Sullivan
L/R
5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Jr
Aurora, Colorado
22
OF
Clay Cuno
R/R
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
So
New Bloomfield, Missouri
23
RHP
Johnny Dorn
R/R
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
Sr
Grand Island, Nebraska
24
OF
Bryce Nimmo
L/L
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
174 lb (79 kg)
Sr
Cheyenne, Wyoming
25
RHP
Erik Anderson
R/R
5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
So
Prairie Village, Kansas
26
LHP
Dan Jennings
L/L
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
183 lb (83 kg)
Jr
West Des Moines, Iowa
28
LHP
Joe Hatasaki
L/L
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
174 lb (79 kg)
So
Mountain View, California
30
RHP
Erik Bird
R/R
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Jr
Omaha, Nebraska
31
LHP
Ryan Christenson
L/L
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
Fr
Gilbert, Arizona
32
OF
Tyler Farst
R/R
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
So
Cedar Park, Texas
33
RHP
Michael Mariot
R/R
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Fr
Southlake, Texas
35
C
Cody Neer
S/R
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Jr
Orlando, Florida
37
LHP
Zach Herr
L/L
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
182 lb (83 kg)
Jr
Omaha, Nebraska
39
RHP
Aaron Pribanic
R/R
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Jr
Plano, Texas
41
RHP
Mike Nesseth
R/R
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
213 lb (97 kg)
RS Fr
Windom, Minnesota
43
LHP
Eric Rose
L/L
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
237 lb (108 kg)
RS Fr
Billings, Montana
Head coach
Mike Anderson
Assistant coach(es)
Dave Bingham
Hitting coach(es)
Nate Thompson
Pitching coach(es)
Eric Newman
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Current redshirt
Roster
2008 Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball game log
Regular season
Date
Opponent
Site/stadium
Win
Loss
Save
Score
Overall record (Big 12)
Feb. 22
Stanford
Palo Alto, California
Bleich (1-0)
Weber (0-1)
L 7-17
0-1
Feb. 22
Stanford
Palo Alto, California
Dorn (1-0)
Davis (0-1)
W 9-2
1-1
Feb. 23
Stanford
Postponed (rain)
Feb. 24
Stanford
Palo Alto, California
Inman (1-0)
Bird (0-1)
Stringer (1)
L 2-4
1-2
Feb. 29
UC Riverside
Hawks Field
Anderson (1-0)
Penney (0-1)
W 3-2
2-2
Date
Opponent
Site/stadium
Win
Loss
Save
Score
Overall record (Big 12)
Mar. 1
UC Riverside
Hawks Field
Jennings (1-0)
Larkins (1-1)
W 10-4
3-2
Mar. 1
UC Riverside
Hawks Field
Weber (1-1)
Applebee (0-2)
Nesseth (1)
W 5-2
4-2
Mar. 2
UC Riverside
Hawks Field
Pribanic (1-0)
Orozco (0-1)
W 13-1 (7)
5-2
Mar. 4
Nebraska–Kearney
Hawks Field
Hatasaki (1-0)
Wrobel (1-3)
W 11-2
6-2
Mar. 8
Northern Colorado
Hawks Field
Dorn (2-0)
Reap (1-1)
W 12-2
7-2
Mar. 9
Northern Colorado
Hawks Field
Nesseth (1-0)
Peery (1-2)
Anderson (1)
W 3-2
8-2
Mar. 9
Northern Colorado
Hawks Field
Weber (2-1)
Kazell (0-1)
Herr (1)
W 8-5
9-2
Mar. 10
Northern Colorado
Hawks Field
Pribanic (2-0)
Keating (2-1)
W 7-0
10-2
Mar. 11
South Dakota State
Hawks Field
Mariot (1-0)
Johnson (0-2)
W 7-3
11-2
Mar. 14
Kansas State
Manhattan, Kansas
Herr (1-0)
Hoge (0-1)
Anderson (2)
W 2-1
12-2 (1-0)
Mar. 15
Kansas State
Manhattan, Kansas
Weber (3-1)
Bayuk (0-2)
W 11-4
13-2 (2-0)
Mar. 16
Kansas State
Manhattan, Kansas
Nesseth (2-0)
Edwards (1-2)
Anderson (3)
W 5-3 (10)
14-2 (3-0)
Mar. 18
Arkansas
Hawks Field
Jennings (2-0)
Korbal (0-3)
W 6-1
15-2 (3-0)
Mar. 19
Arkansas
Hawks Field
Richards (1-0)
Nesseth (2-1)
L 4-9
15-3 (3-0)
Mar. 21
Oklahoma
Hawks Field
Herr (2-0)
Duke (3-2)
W 4-2
16-3 (4-0)
Mar. 22
Oklahoma
Hawks Field
Weber (4-1)
Doyle (4-2)
Nesseth (2)
W 4-3
17-3 (5-0)
Mar. 23
Oklahoma
Hawks Field
Tie 8-8 (10)
17-3-1 (5-0-1)
Mar. 25
Northern Colorado
Hawks Field
Jennings (3-0)
Klausing (1-3)
W 10-0
18-3-1 (5-0-1)
Mar. 26
Northern Colorado
Hawks Field
Bird (1-1)
Banks (0-3)
W 9-4
19-3-1 (5-0-1)
Mar. 28
Texas
Austin, Texas
Dorn (3-0)
Shinaberry (1-1)
Jennings (1)
W 14-4
20-3-1 (6-0-1)
Mar. 29
Texas
Austin, Texas
Weber (5-1)
Wood (2-2)
W 2-0
21-3-1 (7-0-1)
Mar. 30
Texas
Austin, Texas
Boening (2-0)
Pribanic (2-1)
Green (1)
L 12-3
21-4-1 (7-1-1)
Date
Opponent
Site/stadium
Win
Loss
Save
Score
Overall record (Big 12)
April 1
Creighton
Postponed until April 23 (Cold Weather)
April 4
Texas Tech
Hawks Field
Dorn (4-0)
Karns (1-5)
W 6-2
22-4-1 (8-1-1)
April 5
Texas Tech
Hawks Field
Weber (6-1)
Ramos (1-3)
Jennings (2)
W 5-2
23-4-1 (9-1-1)
April 6
Texas Tech
Hawks Field
Pribanic (4-1)
Bettis (3-2)
Jennings (3)
W 5-3
24-4-1 (10-1-1)
April 8
Iowa
Canceled (Cold Weather)
April 11
Oklahoma State
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Oliver (3-2)
Dorn (4-1)
L 0-1
24-5-1 (10-2-1)
April 12
Oklahoma State
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Lyons (6-2)
Weber (6-2)
L 2-19
24-6-1 (10-3-1)
April 13
Oklahoma State
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Jennings (4-0)
Blanford (3-3)
W 14-5
25-6-1 (11-3-1)
April 15
Wichita State
Hawks Field
Bird (2-1)
Kelley (4-2)
Herr (2)
W 3-0
26-6-1 (11-3-1)
April 18
Kansas
Hawks Field
Dorn (5-1)
Czyz (2-4)
Jennings (4)
W 7-6
27-6-1 (12-3-1)
April 19
Kansas
Hawks Field
Weber (7-2)
Esquibel (3-3)
Herr (3)
W 8-6
28-6-1 (13-3-1)
April 20
Kansas
Hawks Field
Walz (3-0)
Pribanic (3-2)
Smyth (7)
L 3-6
28-7-1 (13-4-1)
April 22
Creighton
Hawks Field
Jennings (5-0)
Hauer (6-2)
Nesseth (3)
W 4-3
29-7-1 (13-4-1)
April 23
Creighton
Rosenblatt Stadium
Mariot (2-0)
Moore (4-5)
W 16-7
30-7-1 (13-4-1)
April 25
Baylor
Postponed until April 26 (Rain)
April 26
Baylor
Waco, Texas
Nesseth (3-1)
Kenpf (5-2)
Herr (4)
W 6-4 (10)
31-7-1 (14-4-1)
April 26
Baylor
Waco, Texas
Weber (8-2)
Tolleson (4-3)
W 14-1 (7)
32-7-1 (15-4-1)
April 27
Baylor
Waco, Texas
Kempf (6-2)
Pribanic (3-3)
Thurman (2)
L 3-8
32-8-1 (15-5-1)
April 29
Western Illinois
Hawks Field
Hauptman (1-0)
Percival (1-6)
Nesseth (4)
W 6-4
33-8-1 (15-5-1)
April 30
Western Illinois
Hawks Field
Bird (3-1)
Zenesek (1-2)
W 6-1
34-8-1 (15-5-1)
Date
Opponent
Site/stadium
Win
Loss
Save
Score
Overall record (Big 12)
May 2
Louisiana–Lafayette
Canceled (Rain)
May 3
Louisiana-Lafayette
Hawks Field
Herr (3-0)
Glass (2-3)
W 4-3
35-8-1 (15-5-1)
May 3
Louisiana-Lafayette
Hawks Field
Bird (4-1)
Harmon (1-2)
W 4-3 (14)
36-8-1 (15-5-1)
May 9
Texas A&M
Hawks Field
Starling (8-0)
Jennings (5-1)
L 3-6 (16)
36-9-1 (15-6-1)
May 10
Texas A&M
Postponed until May 11 (Rain)
May 11
Texas A&M
Hawks Field
Jennings (6-1)
Thebeau (5-3)
W 9-8
37-9-1 (16-6-1)
May 11
Texas A&M
Hawks Field
Nesseth (4-1)
Minks (4-1)
W 13-10
38-9-1 (17-6-1)
May 13
Creighton
Rosenblatt Stadium
Bird (5-1)
Hellhake (3-1)
Hauptman (1)
W 8-1
39-9-1 (17-6-1)
May 16
Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Crow (12-0)
Jennings (6-2)
L 8-1
39-10-1 (17-7-1)
May 17
Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Berger (4-4)
Weber (8-3)
Allen (2)
L 22-9
39-11-1 (17-8-1)
May 18
Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Zagone (2-3)
Pribanic (3-4)
Gibson (2)
L 3-7
39-12-1 (17-9-1)
Postseason
Date
Opponent
Site/stadium
Win
Loss
Save
Score
Overall record (Big 12)
May 21
Baylor
Oklahoma City
Tolleson (6-4)
Jennings (6-3)
Kempf (2)
L 4-10
39-13-1
May 23
Kansas State
Oklahoma City
Dorn (6-1)
Bayuk (1-5)
Herr (5)
W 5-2
40-13-1
May 24
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma City
Lyons (11-2)
Weber (8-4)
Weinhardt (4)
L 5-11
40-14-1
[ 5]
Johnny Dorn's 13 Strike out game against Northern Colorado is his career high.[ 6]
Aaron Pribanic threw back to back complete games against UC Riverside and Northern Colorado becoming the first Husker pitcher to toss consecutive complete games since Aaron Marsden in March 2003.[ 7]
The 14-game win streak Nebraska put together tied for the fourth-longest win streak in school history and the longest since a 15-game win streak in 2000. The Huskers’ streak fell two games shy of the Big 12 record of 16 set by Kansas State (2006) and Texas Tech (2002).[ 8]
The Tie against Oklahoma on March 23 was the first tie for Nebraska since 1996 and the fourth one in league games since the Big 12 established in 1996.[ 9]
The Huskers’ 5-0-1 start in Big 12 play is their best since the league was formed in 1997. The previous start was 5-1 on four occasions, most recently in 2005.[ 8]
Mitch Abeita
All-Big 12 First Team[ 10]
ABCA All-Midwest Region Team[ 11]
Craig Corriston
Big 12 Player of the Week (03/17/2008)[ 12]
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention[ 10]
Johnny Dorn
Big 12’s Co-Pitcher of the Week (03/10/2008)[ 13]
All-Big 12 First Team[ 10]
ABCA All-Midwest Region Second Team[ 11]
Third-Team All-American[ 14]
Dan Jennings
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention[ 10]
Bryce Nimmo
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention[ 10]
Jake Opitz
All-Big 12 First Team[ 10]
ABCA All-Midwest Region Second Team[ 11]
Nick Sullivan
Big 12 Player of the Week (03/24/2008)[ 15]
Thad Weber
All-Big 12 Second Team[ 10]
Ranking Movement
Poll
Pre- season
Feb 25
Mar 3
Mar 10
Mar 17
Mar 24
Mar 31
April 7
April 14
April 21
April 28
May 5
May 12
May 19
May 26
June 3
June 10
Final
[ 16]
USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll
NR
--*
NR
NR
24
17
10
6
9
8
7
7
6
7
10
--
--
23
[ 17]
Baseball America
NR
NR
NR
NR
22
19
11
6
9
8
6
5
5
12
13
20
20
20
[ 18]
Collegiate Baseball (Top 30)
38
NR
NR
NR
22
15
9
6
10
10
10
7
6
13
15
22
22
22
[ 19]
NCBWA (Top 35)
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
30
22
14
13
13
9
7
6
10
13
20
20
20
[ 20]
Rivals.com
NR
NR
NR
NR
21
16
12
6
11
8
9
8
6
8
11
-
-
21
NR = Not Ranked
* USA Today/ESPN did not release a poll after the first weekend of play.
Player
Position
Round
Overall
MLB Team
[ 21]
Aaron Pribanic
RHP
3
98
Seattle Mariners
[ 22]
Dan Jennings
LHP
9
168
Florida Marlins
[ 23]
Jake Opitz
2B
12
371
Chicago Cubs
[ 24]
Johnny Dorn
RHP
15
448
Florida Marlins
[ 25]
Thad Weber
RHP
16
493
Detroit Tigers
[ 26]
Mitch Abeita
C
19
590
New York Yankees
[ 27]
Zach Herr
LHP
38
1155
San Diego Padres
^ "Baseball standings" . big12sports.com. Retrieved May 15, 2013 .
^ Huskers Retooled for 2008 Season
^ NU's baseball schedule features tourney teams
^ Huskers Tabbed for Sixth in Big 12 Preseason Poll
^ Baseball - 2008 Schedule/Results
^ Dorn, Huskers Top Northern Colorado
^ Pribanic, Belfonte Powers Huskers to 7-0 Win
^ a b Huskers Host Northern Colorado
^ Huskers-Sooners Tie Finale
^ a b c d e f g 2008 ALL-BIG 12 BASEBALL AWARDS
^ a b c Three Huskers Earn ABCA All-Region Honors
^ "Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Weekly Awards Announced (March 17)" . Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2008 .
^ "Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Weekly Awards Announced (March 10)" . Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2008 .
^ Dorn Earns Third-Team All-America Honors
^ "Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Weekly Awards Announced (March 24)" . Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2008 .
^ "2005 College Baseball Polls" . WarrenNolan.com. June 29, 2005. Retrieved January 6, 2010 .
^ "2008 College Baseball Polls" . Baseball America. Retrieved January 1, 2010 .
^ "2008 NCAA DIV I Baseball Polls" . Collegiate Baseball. Retrieved January 1, 2010 .
^ "News from the 2008 College Baseball Season" . NCBWA. Retrieved December 31, 2009 .
^ "Rivals.com Top 25" . Rivals.com. Retrieved January 11, 2010 .
^ Pribanic Taken by Mariners
^ Jennings Selected in Ninth Round of MLB Draft
^ Opitz Taken by Chicago Cubs in 12th Round
^ Dorn Drafted in 15th Round by Florida
^ Weber Drafted by Tigers in 16th Round
^ Abeita Chosen by Yankees in 19th Round
^ Herr Drafted by Padres
Venue Culture & lore People Seasons College World Series appearances in italics