It’s time to play ball for Darin Erstad and his Husker baseball team. They open their season tonight in Baskersfield, California with a game against Cal State-Bakersfield. The Huskers are picked to finish second in the Big Ten this season. 20 letterwinners return, including preseason All-America pick Michael Pritchard. Right-hander Brandon Pierce will take the mound to open the season tonight. It’s the first of four games the Huskers will play this weekend, with two against 22nd-ranked Cal State-Fullerton tomorrow night and one against USC on Sunday. First pitch tonight is set for 5 PM.