Nebraska – Page 6 – North Platte Post Archive

Schreiber Homers in Extras, NU Wins 3-2

Posted on April 2, 2015April 2, 2015

Papillion, Neb. – Freshman Scott Schreiber found the perfect time for the first home run of his Husker career, as the Menasha, Wis., native broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the 10^th inning with a two-out solo home into the left field seats at Werner Park. Senior Josh Roeder took the mound in the bottom of the 10^th and struck out the side to notch his ninth save of the season.

The No. 18 Huskers are now 23-7 on the year following the 3-2 win over the Omaha Mavericks.

The Mavs scored first on the night and after the Huskers tied the game 1-1 in the fifth, UNO retook the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the frame. NU tied the game again, 2-2, in the seventh and after neither team scored in the eighth or ninth, Schreiber delivered the biggest hit of his young Husker career.

After the Huskers stranded a pair of singles to start the game, the Mavs struck first on the night with a run in the bottom of the first. Alex Schultz led off the frame with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Clayton Taylor. Nebraska starter Zack Engelken lasted just 0.1 of an inning after giving up a double and two walks to three of UNO’s first four batters.

Fellow freshman Jake Meyers took over for Engelken in the first with one out and a pair of runners on base, the Omaha Westside got two straight ground balls to limit the damage to one run. Meyers went on to throw a season-high 4.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits with a season-high four strikeouts.

Following a one-out single by Austin Christensen in the second, Omaha starter Shane Meltz hit a groove and retired 10 straight Huskers before Jake Placzek lined a single to left field with one out in the fifth. Meltz came back and got Ryan Boldt for the second out of the inning, but Placzek moved to second on the play. Jake Schleppenbach stepped up and drove a RBI single to right field that tied the game, 1-1. Meltz then walked Blake Headley before retiring Ben Miller to end the top of the fifth.

Meyers came out and retired the first two UNO batters he faced in the bottom of the fifth, but then Schultz came calling with a solo home run that just snuck over the left-field wall. Cole Gruber followed with a double, and the Huskers turned the ball to Jake Hohensee, who retired Taylor to end the fifth, but not before the Mavs regained the lead, 2-1.

The Huskers kept battling and tied the game in the seventh when Boldt led off with a single and scored all the way from first on a double by Schleppenbach. The Mavs then took back the momentum when Headley flew out to center, Schleppenbach tagged on the play and tried to take third, but was cut down on a perfect throw by Schultz. UNO reliever Corey Binger retired Ben Miller to end the inning with the game tied, 2-2.

Luis Alvarado led off the top of the eighth with second single of the night and was later in scoring position when he stole second base. The Huskers were unable to come up with a hit though and he was stranded at second at the end of the inning.

The Mavs then had a shot to score in the bottom of the eighth after Alex Mortensen hit a one-out double and NU reliever Max Knutson hit Daniel Jewitt. The HBP ended up helping the Huskers, as Knutson got a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.

The Huskers had the go-ahead run on base in the top of the ninth when Boldt reached on an error by third baseman Justin Threlkeld and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Schleppenbach. NU would strand its 11^th runner of the night though, as UNO reliever Zach Williamsen retired Headley and Miller in order.

Omaha then had its chance to end the game in the ninth when Threlkend led off with a single and was in scoring position with one out following a bunt. Knutson struck out pinch hitter Adam Caniglia looking and then had to face Schultz, who was 3-for-4 on the night with a home run and two doubles. NU’s sophomore lefty won the battle and sent the game to extras with a 4-3 groundout.

The Huskers will be back in conference action this weekend with a three-game series against the Maryland Terrapins in College Park, Md. The Huskers and Terps open their series on Friday at 6:05 p.m. (CT), continue it on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. and wrap up the series on Sunday at 11:05 a.m. Friday’s game will be shown live on the Big Ten Network, and Sunday’s game will be shown on tape delay at 2 p.m.

Husker QBs Starting to Settle In

Posted on April 1, 2015April 1, 2015

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team completed its 10th practice of the 2015 spring football season on Wednesday afternoon. The Huskers practiced for just over two hours outside on the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice fields in full pads.

Nebraska offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf spoke with media members following the conclusion of Wednesday’s practice. Langsdorf talked about the recent Husker quarterback play, mentioning that the quarterbacks are finally starting to settle into the new offense.

“I thought right before spring break and really the last couple of days I felt like we have made some progress,” Langsdorf said. “We have been able to repeat some concepts and I think the quarterbacks are getting more comfortable. I just think there is a comfort level for the players that is starting to come around.”

Langsdorf said that the first two or three practices can be especially tough on the quarterbacks, as they are all trying to learn a completely new system, in which the offense huddles up compared to running a no-huddle style of offense.

“I think day one, they are trying to figure out where to stand in the huddle and call the play, remember the snap count and who the reads are, there are a lot of stuff for them, now they are not having to think as much and they are more comfortable,” he said. “They are calling plays out, they are more comfortable with what the formation looks like and then what the starting point of the play is.”

He added, “I think all of that stuff for all of them has greatly improved since day one. I think they are playing faster because of it.”

Checking down to the backfield receiver is something Langsdorf really stressed the quarterbacks need to continue to work on.

“We have to get on the No. 2 and No. 3 receivers a little bit better, we have a good idea about No. 1, but getting to the second and third guy—especially the check down out of the backfield. Those kinds of throws are what we are kind of missing a bit.”

Nebraska returns to the practice field on Friday for its 11th workout of the spring. Check back at Huskers.com for updates.

King Stifles Jays In Front of Record Crowd

Posted on March 31, 2015

Lincoln – In front of 7,319 fans, the largest crowd ever for a regular-season game between Nebraska and Creighton in Lincoln, the No. 18 Nebraska baseball team concluded its 16-game homestand on Tuesday night with a 5-1 win over the Creighton Bluejays, who entered the game on a seven-game winnings streak. The Huskers are now 22-7 on the year and finished the homestand with a 15-1 record. The last time the Huskers notched 22 wins before the month of April was 2005, when NU entered April with a 22-3 record.

The crowd of 7,319 was the 24^th largest crowd in Hawks Field history and the largest crowd for Nebraska-Creighton game in Lincoln since 2005, when 8,304 fans watched the two teams play in the NCAA Lincoln Regional Final. It was also the largest crowd for a game at Hawks Field since 2008, when 8,648 fans watched the Huskers play the UC Irvine Anteaters in the NCAA Lincoln Regional.

Freshman Garett King continued Nebraska’s dominance on the mound, as he went a career-high 8.0 innings and issued only two hits to improve to 3-0 on the year. The 6-3 right hander struck out five and didn’t issue a walk for the second straight start. King was perfect through the first four innings, before Harrison Crawford led off the fifth with a triple down the right-field line that just escaped the out-stretched glove of Austin Darby. Crawford scored CU’s lone run of the game when Brett Murray lifted a sacrifice fly into center field.

Following the triple, King went on to retire 12 of the final 13 Jays he faced, before junior Jeff Chesnut took the mound in the ninth and retired the Jays in order to finish the win.

The Huskers now has a 2.32 ERA on the year, and a blistering 1.98 ERA in games at Hawks Field. In 16 games at home, the Husker arms piled up 122 strikeouts to 34 walks.

La Vista, Neb., native Jake Placzek led the NU offensive attack with another great game against the Jays, going 3-for-5, including a double and his first career triple. In four career games against Creighton, Placzek is hitting .500 (7-for-14) with two doubles, one triple and six RBIs. Last season, Placzek delivered a walk-off single in a 5-4 extra-innings win in Lincoln and later in the year came through with a two-RBI single in the eighth inning that drove in the eventual game-winning runs in a 4-2 win at TD Ameritrade Park.

Placzek extended NU’s lead to 3-0 in the top of the second with a two-out double and then pushed the lead to 4-0 in the fourth with a triple. The junior then scored on a RBI single by Blake Headley that put the Huskers ahead 5-0.

NU’s first three batters in its lineup, Ryan Boldt-Placzek-Headley, finished the game a combined 8-for-14 with three runs scored and four RBIs.

After playing their last 16 games at home, the Huskers now head east down I-80 tomorrow for a meeting with the Omaha Mavericks at Werner Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Tarin Smith Announces Decision to Transfer

Posted on March 31, 2015

Lincoln – University of Nebraska men’s basketball coach Tim Miles announced Tuesday evening that freshman guard Tarin Smith has decided to transfer from the Husker program following the spring semester.

“My family and I have intensely thought about this decision, and we feel that it is best if I transfer at the end of this school year,” Smith said. “I would like to thank the University of Nebraska and the fans for this opportunity and their support and encouragement throughout the year.”

Smith, a 6-foot-2 guard from Ocean Township, N.J., played in all 31 games as a true freshman this season, averaging 4.5 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. He had a career-high 13 points in a loss to Ohio State on Feb. 26.

“I am disappointed in Tarin’s choice to transfer, but I support him and understand his decision,” Miles said. “Our entire program will miss him, and we wish him nothing but a successful future.”

Huskers’ Holman Named to U.S. Collegiate National Team

Posted on March 31, 2015

Briana Holman when playing for LSU before transferring to Nebraska.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Nebraska junior volleyball player Briana Holman is one of 12 players selected to the U.S. Collegiate National Team that will play in the 2015 World University Games July 2-12 at Gwangju, South Korea.

It is the second career selection for Holman to the U.S. Collegiate National Team. The middle blocker from DeSoto, Texas was part of the USA team that participated in the Tour of China in 2014.

The World University Games happens every four years as a prelude to the Olympics the following summer.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for Briana,” Nebraska head coach John Cook said. “It’s been a dream of hers, and she will get to go to South Korea where the 1988 Olympics were held. This will be a high-level tournament, and the USA is sending its best possible team to try and medal. It will be a great experience for her, not only to go to Korea and play against the best competition in the world, but to get to meet and play with different student-athletes from other teams around the United States.”

The World University Games roster is part of USA Volleyball’s High Performance program’s Collegiate National Team. The squad has four players who finished their senior seasons in 2014, along with three seniors and five juniors.

Team USA for the World University Games includes setters Lexi Dannemiller (University of Michigan, West Chester, Ohio) and Micha Hancock (Penn State University, Edmond, Okla.). Opposites on the team are Khat Bell (University of Texas, Mesquite, Texas) and Alex Holston (University of Florida, Olney, Md.). Laura Larson (University of Arizona, Lakeville, Minn.) was named as the libero.

Middle blockers chosen to the World University Games roster are Nia Grant (Penn State University, Warren, Ohio), Briana Holman (University of Nebraska, DeSoto, Texas) and Paige Tapp (University of Minnesota, Stewartville, Minn.). Outside hitters selected to the team are Jordan Burgess (Stanford University, Fort Myers, Fla.), Carly Kan (University of Missouri, Honolulu), Andi Malloy (Baylor University, Allen, Texas) and Nicole Walch (Florida State University, Stuart, Fla.).

Mary Wise, head coach for the University of Florida, has been named the head coach for the team. She will be assisted by Kyle Robinson, the new University of Oklahoma assistant coach, and Dan Thomassen, Sage Hill High School volleyball coach and co-founder of Prime Volleyball Club in California.

“The World University Games is a unique event that we look forward to competing in come July,” Wise said. “We are fortunate to assemble such a talented group of players to represent USA Volleyball.”

The squad includes five AVCA All-America First-Team selections in 2014, including Burgess, Grant, Hancock, Holman and Holston. Further, Bell and Walch were AVCA All-America Second-Team selections in 2014, while Tapp was named to the third-team.

The World University Games squad will come together June 28 in Los Angeles before traveling to South Korea for the competition. The roster was selected through the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts held Feb. 20-22 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., along with an invitation-only training block held in January in Anaheim, Calif.

The U.S. Collegiate National Team program also includes a China Tour roster that will be announced later this week, along with a 36-player group that will train and compete in conjunction with the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships in June.

U.S. Women’s World University Games Roster
Name (Position, School, 2015 College Year, Hometown)
Khat Bell (OPP, University of Texas, Grad, Mesquite, Texas)
Jordan Burgess (OH, Stanford University, Sr., Fort Myers, Fla.)
Lexi Dannemiller (S, University of Michigan, Grad, West Chester, Ohio)
Nia Grant (MB, Penn State University, Grad, Warren, Ohio)
Micha Hancock (S, Penn State University, Grad, Edmond, Okla.)
Briana Holman (MB, University of Nebraska, Jr., DeSoto, Texas)
Alex Holston (OPP, University of Florida, Jr., Olney, Md.)
Carly Kan (OH, University of Missouri, Jr., Honolulu, Hawaii)
Laura Larson (L, University of Arizona, Jr., Lakeville, Minn.)
Andi Malloy (OH, Baylor University, Sr., Allen, Texas)
Paige Tapp (MB, University of Minnesota, Jr., Stewartville, Minn.)
Nicole Walch (OH, Florida State University, Sr., Stuart, Fla.)

Head Coach: Mary Wise (University of Florida)
Assistant Coach: Kyle Robinson (University of Oklahoma)
Assistant Coach: Dan Thomassen (Prime Volleyball Club, Sage Hill High School, Calif.)
Trainer: Meredith Dillon (West Valley College)

Three Huskers To Transfer

Posted on March 31, 2015

Lincoln, Neb. – Nebraska volleyball head coach John Cook announced on Tuesday that Alexa Ethridge, Maddie Haggerty and Kira Larson are leaving the Nebraska volleyball program. Each player has been given a full release to transfer.

“We are very thankful for the contributions these three young women have provided to our program, both on and off the court,” Cook said. “Alexa, Maddie and Kira are great talents and special people with high character. They all have bright futures ahead of them, and we wish them nothing but the very best. We are totally supportive of their decisions.”

Ethridge was a defensive and serving specialist for the Huskers the past two seasons, appearing in 66 career matches. Larson played in 15 matches this season as a redshirt freshman, registering 13 kills and 10 blocks. Haggerty sat out her freshman season with a lingering injury.

The Huskers, who just wrapped up their third sand season with a 6-2 record, will now begin preparing for their only spring match on April 25 against Kansas State in Grand Island.

Kubat and Dilday Earn Big Ten Honors

Posted on March 31, 2015

Lincoln – Following a 4-1 week for the Nebraska baseball team, that included a sweep of the nationally-ranked Texas Longhorns, senior Kyle Kubat was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week and freshman Elijah Dilday was named Big Ten Co-Freshmen of the Week by the conference office on Tuesday morning. The Huskers have earned three weekly awards from the league office this season, as Ryan Boldt was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Feb. 23.

One day after being tabbed as one of Collegiate Baseball’s Louisville Slugger National Players of the Week, Kubat earned his first career weekly honor from the Big Ten office. The senior lefty has been lights out for the Huskers on Saturdays this season and was on top of his game against the No. 16 Longhorns. Kubat tossed 8.0 shutout inning and notched a career-high nine strikeouts for the second straight week. Following a two-out single by Brooks Marlow in the fourth, Kubat retired the final 13 Longhorns he faced. It was the senior’s third career outing of at least 8.0 innings and trailed only his 8.2-inning effort against Michigan at last season’s Big Ten Tournament.

Kubat, along with relievers Jake Hohensee, Colton Howell and Jeff Chesnut limited the Longhorns to four hits and three walks on the day, while piling up 19 strikeouts. The most strikeouts by a Husker staff since 2009 when NU notched 22 punch outs in a 15 inning game against Louisiana-Lafayette. After the Longhorns produced three hits through the first three innings, they then didn’t record another hit until Ben Johnson led off the 14^th with a single. Texas totaled just seven base runners and had a runner in scoring position only twice all game.

After missing the first 20 games of the year with a shoulder injury to his non-throwing arm, Dilday has quickly made his impact on the Husker offense and defense. The St. Charles, Mo., native started all five of NU’s games last week in left field and hit .462 on the week with at least one hit in every game. The 6-1 Dilday notched his first career multi-hit game, including a two-out RBI double in the third, in NU’s sweep clinching win over the Longhorns on Sunday. Dilday struck out once all week, while slugging .538 with an on-base percentage of .500, and he also played stellar defense with multiple diving catches.

Pitchford to Forego Senior Season at Nebraska

Posted on March 30, 2015

Lincoln – University of Nebraska forward Walter Pitchford announced Monday that he is giving up his final season of eligibility with the Husker basketball program. Pitchford will remain at the University of Nebraska and finish his undergraduate degree in ethnic studies.

“I thank Coach Miles for giving me the opportunity when I transferred from Florida,” Pitchford said. “I have learned a lot about myself in the three years I’ve been at Nebraska and it is not an easy decision to give up playing basketball. I believe it is in the best interest of both the team and myself that I devote my time to completing my degree at Nebraska and eventually go into a career in business.

“I appreciate all the support I have received from the coaching staff, my teammates and the fans during my time at Nebraska and it has become home for me,” Pitchford said. “I know my teammates support me on this difficult decision, and I will be there to support them.”

“I completely support Walter in his decision,” Nebraska basketball coach Tim Miles said. “It shows a great deal of courage for a young man to see his career path and pursue it. I know leaving behind basketball is not easy for Walter or his family, but I also believe this is the best thing for Walt because it targets what he wants to do.”

As a junior, he played in 30 games, including 26 starts, and averaged 7.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game to rank third on the team in both scoring and rebounding. Pitchford reached double figures nine times in 2014-15, including a career-high 19 points against Tennessee-Martin and at No. 16 Maryland.

He averaged 9.3 points and 4.7 rebounds as a sophomore in 2013-14, helping the Huskers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998. That season, he ranked among the Big Ten leaders in both field goal percentage (.473, 10th) and 3-point percentage (.410, seventh).

Pitchford began his career at the University of Florida in 2011-12, helping the Gators to an appearance in the Elite Eight.

In the classroom, Pitchford is a two-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll member.

Huskers Return from Spring Break

Posted on March 30, 2015

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team completed its ninth practice of the 2015 spring football season on Monday afternoon. The Huskers practices for just over two hours outside on the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice fields in helmets and shorts.

Nebraska Head Coach Mike Riley met with media members following the conclusion of Monday’s practice, as Riley mentioned that in his 14 seasons as a collegiate football head coach, this was the first spring practice season where the team took a week off for spring break.

“This is the first time I have been involved in breaking up spring practice with a week (off), so I wondered what all that would be like,” Riley said. “I thought for the most part it was pretty good, not perfect, but I don’t know if it would be perfect anyways.”

Riley added that having the time off was a good thing for some of the players who were dealing with some bumps and bruises before break.

“I liked the fact that we probably had four, maybe five guys that would have not practiced on practice No. 9, if we would have had it right after the last practice we had (before spring break).”

Despite getting back to the grind of a regular routine, Riley said there was plenty of enthusiasm on the practice fields on Monday.

“I thought the enthusiasm for practice today was really good. Kind of my favorite thing. The football was off and on a little bit today—the execution on plays, in general that part was not as sharp,” he said.

Even the quarterbacks have been practicing well, despite transitioning from a spread offense to more of a pro-style offense.

“There was some good execution, some crisp throws, I am not sure as crisp today as we were on that last practice Friday (before Spring Break),” Riley said. “AJ got a lot of turns and I thought he made some nice plays, I thought Zack Darlington made some nice plays—I was impressed with him. The rest of the guys all had their moments too.”

Nebraska returns to the practice field on Wednesday for its 10th workout of the spring. Check back at Huskers.com for updates.

No. 18 Huskers Wrap Up Homestand with Creighton, Visit Mavericks

Posted on March 30, 2015

Lincoln – The No. 18 Nebraska baseball team (21-7, 3-0 Big Ten) is set to finish its 16-game homestand on Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m. when the Creighton Bluejays (15-7, 0-0 Big East) visit Hawks Field for the first of three meetings between the two programs in 2015. The Huskers are 15-1 on the homestand, with the only loss coming last Wednesday to Cal State Fullerton, 4-3. The Huskers then head east on I-80 to Werner Park, home of the Omaha Storm Chasers, on Wednesday for a 6:35 p.m. showdown with the Omaha Mavericks (13-11, 6-3 Summit).

The Huskers come into the game fresh off a three-game sweep of then No. 16 Texas and NU is 9-1 in its last 10 games. The Jays have been playing great baseball as well, as they are also 9-1 over their last 10 games, and ride a seven-game winning streak into Tuesday. The Jays have played well on the road this season, posting a 7-4 record, with two of the losses coming in New Orleans to Tulane.

On Wednesday, the Huskers will play their first game away from Hawks Field since March 8 and will take on a Maverick squad that is 8-1 this season in Omaha. Wednesday will be the first game this season the Mavericks play at Werner Park, as they have played three games at Millard North High School and six games at the Ballpark at Boys Town. The Mavs are set to play 18 of their 23 games at the Ballpark at Boys Town in 2015, while their games against Nebraska and Kansas State will be played at Werner Park.

Freshman Garett King is scheduled to start against the Jays on Tuesday night. The Anaheim Hills, Calif., native has gone at least 5.0 innings in each of his past two starts, including a season-long 5.1 innings last week in a win over Cal State Fullerton. King also struck out a season-high five Titans last week, while walking none.

The Jays are scheduled to start sophomore Jeff Albrecht, who is 1-1 on the year with a 1.80 ERA in six appearances, including three starts. The Creighton Prep product was worked 20.0 innings, with 13 strikeouts and eight walks. Albrecht started against the Huskers last season on April 8 at TD Ameritrade Park and went 5.1 innings in a no decision. The lefty limited the Huskers to one run on five hits and three walks, while striking out five, in a game the Huskers came back to win 4-2.

Freshman Zack Engelken is set to start for the Huskers on Wednesday at Werner Park and will be looking to rebound off a season-low 1.1 inning start against Cal State Fullerton last Wednesday. Engelken struggled with command early, giving up two hits and three walks. In his previous start against Indiana State on March 18, Engelken struck out five and didn’t issue a walk over 4.1 innings.

The Mavs have yet to announce a starter for Wednesday.

Tuesday, March 31 (6:35 p.m.)

Probable Starters: RHP King (2-0) vs. LHP Albrecht (1-1)

TV: NET World (previously NET-2)

Audio Stream: Huskers.com | Video Stream: BTN Plus

Radio: Husker Sports Network

Wednesday, April 1 (6:35 p.m.)

Probable Starters: RHP Engelken (1-0) vs. TBA

TV: None

Audio Stream: Huskers.com | Video Stream: None

Radio: Husker Sports Network