Omaha – Eight members of the Nebraska baseball team were honored by the Big Ten Conference on Tuesday afternoon, including Chad Luensmann who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Luensmann was also named second-team All-Big Ten and is the first Husker baseball player to ever be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Sophomore first baseman Scott Schreiber was NU’s lone first-team pick, while shortstop Steven Reveles and outfielder Ryan Boldt joined Luensmann as second-team selections. Two-way player Jake Meyers was a third-team outfield selection and Ben Miller was named the designated hitter on the third team.
Luensmann and Matt Waldron were each unanimous All-Big Ten Freshman team picks, while senior catcher Taylor Fish was NU’s Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Luensmann has had to fill the shoes of Josh Roeder, who set the school record for career saves last season. A 6-4 right hander from Altoona, Pa., Luensmann has saved 13 games in 14 chances and his 13 saves are tied for ninth best in the country, while he is tied with Long Beach State’s Chris Rivera for the most saves by a freshman closer. Luensmann already holds the freshman record at Nebraska for saves and is climbing Nebraska’s single-season top-10 list. His next save would give him sole possession of third place and he enters the Big Ten Tournament three saves shy of tying Brett Jensen’s single-season record of 16 saves in 2005. Nine of Luensmann’s 13 saves came come during Big Ten play, which led the league.
After earning All-Big Ten Freshman honors last season, Scott Schreiber has grown into a power hitter during his sophomore campaign. On the season, Schreiber leads the Big Ten with 16 home runs and his 55 RBIs rank second to Michigan’s Harrison Wenson, who has 56 RBIs. During league play, Schreiber finished the season tied for the league lead in home runs with six and led the Big Ten with 25 RBIs. Schreiber’s 16 homers are the most by a Husker since 2010 when Adam Bailey hit 18 and the most by a Husker sophomore since 2004 when Alex Gordon led the team with 18. Schreiber has a three multi-homer games this season, the first time a Husker has done that since 2006 when Brandon Buckman also did it three times. Nebraska’s Director of Operations, Curtis Ledbetter, was the last Husker to have four multi-homer games in the same season, in 2005.
The Huskers open postseason play tomorrow at TD Ameritrade Park, when they take on the Michigan State Spartans in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament at 1:03 p.m. The game will be carried on the Big Ten Network.
Nebraska’s 2016 All-Big Ten Award Winners
First Team
Scott Schreiber – 1B
Second Team
Steven Reveles – SS
Ryan Boldt – OF
Chad Luensmann – RP
Third Team
Jake Meyers – OF
Ben Miller – DH
All-Freshman Team
Matt Waldron – SP
Chad Luensmann – RP
Sportsmanship Award
Taylor Fish