NU's Kroenke shouldering load today
OMAHA — Zach Kroenke stirred much of that night two years ago with an uncomfortable thought that he represented the Nebraska baseball team's last line of defense.
Now, with the Huskers facing elimination in the College World Series today, the left-handed junior goes to the mound against Arizona State with a better understanding that he's merely first in line at bringing them closer to their goal.
"My freshman year in (the NCAA) regional was an elimination game. We lose, then our season was done," Kroenke said Monday. "I came out and threw nine innings. To this day, that's one of the biggest highlights of my career.
"The night before that game I was just so psyched about it. I was like, ‘Got to do good. Got to do good. Don't want to end the season on me, a freshman.' I felt a little bit of pressure, but I'm a little older now and I just know that my guys are going to back me up."
Kroenke hopes to deliver in Rosenblatt Stadium today like he did in that win against Eastern Michigan.
Nebraska, which dropped a 7-4 decision to Florida on Sunday, must beat the Sun Devils for a second time at the CWS to earn a rematch with the Gators on Wednesday. If not, the most successful season in school history comes to an end.
"We'll try to get a win, and see where that takes us," coach Mike Anderson said. "We're not out of this thing by any stretch of the imagination."
Indeed, in his last start, against Creighton, Kroenke (7-2, 2.59 ERA) went the distance and struck out a career-high 13 to clinch the NCAA regional. He also recorded two outs while pitching to three batters during Friday's 5-3 win against Arizona State.
"It's probably a positive that he pitched in front of 25,000 people, maybe the best thing that could happen for him," NU pitching coach Rob Childress said. "He got a chance to feel it, so it's not going to be new to him tomorrow."
Even if Kroenke didn't have that experience, Nebraska ought to feel comfortable with him in the game. The Huskers have won six of his last seven starts.
"He's been in that Sunday slot —there's been a lot of series that we've had to go and win on Sunday and he's always had to answer for us," Childress said.
Nebraska, which must win three games in three days to advance to the best-of-three championship series that begins Saturday, would start right-handed sophomore Joba Chamberlain in Wednesday's contest against Florida. If the Huskers force another game at 1 p.m. Thursday, left-handed junior Brian Duensing, who threw 42 pitches while relieving Johnny Dorn on Sunday, would start. Dorn, who threw 59 pitches, also would be available on Thursday.
Childress said right-handed senior Dusty Timm and left-handed freshman Tony Watson will be the first options out of the bullpen today, and that Brett Jensen, who has a school-record 16 saves, would be ready to enter earlier than usual, if necessary.
The Sun Devils, who started five left-handed batters and a switch hitter in the first meeting with Nebraska, beat Tennessee 4-2 on Sunday to improve to 3-0 this season when facing a season-ending scenario.
"I think the biggest thing is just getting their leadoff hitter out," Childress said. "They're such a pressure offense and they want to run and do a lot of things. And when they get the leadoff hitter on, there's so many things they can do, and do well — hit-and-run, steal, bunt for a hit. We've done a good job of that both nights, it's just they got the (key) hits last night."
Nebraska outhit the Gators 12-9, but 11 of those came with two outs, and only two were delivered when runners were in scoring position.
"We made every move we could make, and the right moves," Childress said. "They played flawless, and we made one mistake, maybe two or three counting the ones on the mound, and that was the game."
Arizona State will start Jason Urquidez (10-4, 3.73) for the second time against the Huskers. On Friday, the right-handed senior threw 52 pitches in two-plus innings before being pulled after allowing three hits, two walks and a pair of runs.
"We don't plan on losing another one," Kroenke said. "We want to end our season on a win and I think we're going to come back and play real well tomorrow.
"We're not going to hold anything back."
Said senior center fielder Daniel Bruce, "We're going to play with confidence, play hard like we always do and be successful."
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
Now, with the Huskers facing elimination in the College World Series today, the left-handed junior goes to the mound against Arizona State with a better understanding that he's merely first in line at bringing them closer to their goal.
"My freshman year in (the NCAA) regional was an elimination game. We lose, then our season was done," Kroenke said Monday. "I came out and threw nine innings. To this day, that's one of the biggest highlights of my career.
"The night before that game I was just so psyched about it. I was like, ‘Got to do good. Got to do good. Don't want to end the season on me, a freshman.' I felt a little bit of pressure, but I'm a little older now and I just know that my guys are going to back me up."
Kroenke hopes to deliver in Rosenblatt Stadium today like he did in that win against Eastern Michigan.
Nebraska, which dropped a 7-4 decision to Florida on Sunday, must beat the Sun Devils for a second time at the CWS to earn a rematch with the Gators on Wednesday. If not, the most successful season in school history comes to an end.
"We'll try to get a win, and see where that takes us," coach Mike Anderson said. "We're not out of this thing by any stretch of the imagination."
Indeed, in his last start, against Creighton, Kroenke (7-2, 2.59 ERA) went the distance and struck out a career-high 13 to clinch the NCAA regional. He also recorded two outs while pitching to three batters during Friday's 5-3 win against Arizona State.
"It's probably a positive that he pitched in front of 25,000 people, maybe the best thing that could happen for him," NU pitching coach Rob Childress said. "He got a chance to feel it, so it's not going to be new to him tomorrow."
Even if Kroenke didn't have that experience, Nebraska ought to feel comfortable with him in the game. The Huskers have won six of his last seven starts.
"He's been in that Sunday slot —there's been a lot of series that we've had to go and win on Sunday and he's always had to answer for us," Childress said.
Nebraska, which must win three games in three days to advance to the best-of-three championship series that begins Saturday, would start right-handed sophomore Joba Chamberlain in Wednesday's contest against Florida. If the Huskers force another game at 1 p.m. Thursday, left-handed junior Brian Duensing, who threw 42 pitches while relieving Johnny Dorn on Sunday, would start. Dorn, who threw 59 pitches, also would be available on Thursday.
Childress said right-handed senior Dusty Timm and left-handed freshman Tony Watson will be the first options out of the bullpen today, and that Brett Jensen, who has a school-record 16 saves, would be ready to enter earlier than usual, if necessary.
The Sun Devils, who started five left-handed batters and a switch hitter in the first meeting with Nebraska, beat Tennessee 4-2 on Sunday to improve to 3-0 this season when facing a season-ending scenario.
"I think the biggest thing is just getting their leadoff hitter out," Childress said. "They're such a pressure offense and they want to run and do a lot of things. And when they get the leadoff hitter on, there's so many things they can do, and do well — hit-and-run, steal, bunt for a hit. We've done a good job of that both nights, it's just they got the (key) hits last night."
Nebraska outhit the Gators 12-9, but 11 of those came with two outs, and only two were delivered when runners were in scoring position.
"We made every move we could make, and the right moves," Childress said. "They played flawless, and we made one mistake, maybe two or three counting the ones on the mound, and that was the game."
Arizona State will start Jason Urquidez (10-4, 3.73) for the second time against the Huskers. On Friday, the right-handed senior threw 52 pitches in two-plus innings before being pulled after allowing three hits, two walks and a pair of runs.
"We don't plan on losing another one," Kroenke said. "We want to end our season on a win and I think we're going to come back and play real well tomorrow.
"We're not going to hold anything back."
Said senior center fielder Daniel Bruce, "We're going to play with confidence, play hard like we always do and be successful."
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
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