Huskers complete sweep of WIU
No pressure, Tyler Farst.
Craig Corriston, Nebraska’s starting first baseman in 31 of the last 32 games, is out with an injury and you’re his replacement.
Not only that, but you’ve been inserted in the lineup as the cleanup hitter.
“It’s a little tough to get your timing adjusted. Other than that, I’ve been hitting baseballs my entire life, and so some of it should come natural,” Farst said Wednesday after the sixth-ranked Huskers finished a two-game sweep of Western Illinois with a 6-1 victory at Haymarket Park.
In just his second at-bat as a starter since April 6, the sophomore transfer from Grayson County (Texas) College lofted a bases-loaded two-run double to give NU all the offense it would need.
Erik Bird (3-1), Aaron Pribanic and Matt Freeman combined to blank the Leathernecks on three hits over eight innings, as Nebraska improved to 34-8-1.
Pitching has carried the Huskers to that impressive record. Now, they’ll be without a player who was third on the team in batting average and home runs, second in slugging percentage, fourth in RBIs and had committed just one error.
Corriston had been bothered by soreness in his right knee, and after NU returned from a weekend series at Baylor, he had an MRI exam that revealed a tear of the medial meniscus. He underwent arthroscopic surgery Wednesday.
In early May of 2000, Nebraska All-America catcher Justin Cowan had a similar injury to his left knee and he missed almost two weeks (and 10 games) before coming back to play in the Big 12 Tournament championship game and the rest of the postseason.
“We’re trying to hopefully get him ready for postseason, if we get there,” coach Mike Anderson said of Corriston.
In the meantime, the Huskers’ options at first are the right-handed-hitting Farst, who reached base twice Wednesday and boosted his batting average to .198 in just 31 at-bats, and right-handed-hitting junior Cody Neer.
Neer started at catcher Wednesday for the third time in four games, in part because NU’s top hitter and regular catcher, Mitch Abeita, was resting a thumb he sprained at Baylor on Sunday. Neer, a transfer from Florida, has made seven starts at first. Left-handed-hitting freshman Tyler Rank also has made two starts at that position.
“Tyler Rank’s pretty young to just stick over there and let him go. Tyler Farst, he’s building experience, and Cody’s done it for us at the beginning of this year,” Anderson said. “But we also need some offense in there, so we’re trying to figure it out. We’ll figure it out.”
Nebraska has a three-game series against Louisiana-Lafayette (22-23) on Friday and Saturday, then plays host to Big 12 Conference leader Texas A&M on May 9-11. After that, the Huskers play Creighton in Omaha, then conclude the regular season with a May 16-18 series at Missouri.
Before NCAA regional play begins on May 30, NU will play in the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City.
“I think we can put Farst over there, or Cody Neer, and hopefully they’ll contribute,” said senior second baseman Jake Opitz, who Wednesday smacked his third homer in four games. “Craig — great bat, great defensively — but we’ve got guys that’ll step in.”
Farst wasn’t bashful about doing so Wednesday.
After walking in the first inning, he keyed a three-run third by driving a hanging curveball from Frank Zenisek nearly out of the ballpark down the left-field line.
“It’s (been) more of a day-to-day thing, and if I get my opportunity I try and make the most of it,” Farst said. “Seeing a lot more live pitching definitely helps anybody out.
“I feel ready. I think I can jump in there and play a little first until Craig comes back.”
After Wednesday, Anderson could have a similar sentiment.
“I was proud of him. We stuck him right in the four-hole, right in the thick of things, and said, ‘Go get it done,’” he said. “We’re going to see better pitching and see some better things, and it’d be nice to find him in a groove early.”
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
Craig Corriston, Nebraska’s starting first baseman in 31 of the last 32 games, is out with an injury and you’re his replacement.
Not only that, but you’ve been inserted in the lineup as the cleanup hitter.
“It’s a little tough to get your timing adjusted. Other than that, I’ve been hitting baseballs my entire life, and so some of it should come natural,” Farst said Wednesday after the sixth-ranked Huskers finished a two-game sweep of Western Illinois with a 6-1 victory at Haymarket Park.
In just his second at-bat as a starter since April 6, the sophomore transfer from Grayson County (Texas) College lofted a bases-loaded two-run double to give NU all the offense it would need.
Erik Bird (3-1), Aaron Pribanic and Matt Freeman combined to blank the Leathernecks on three hits over eight innings, as Nebraska improved to 34-8-1.
Pitching has carried the Huskers to that impressive record. Now, they’ll be without a player who was third on the team in batting average and home runs, second in slugging percentage, fourth in RBIs and had committed just one error.
Corriston had been bothered by soreness in his right knee, and after NU returned from a weekend series at Baylor, he had an MRI exam that revealed a tear of the medial meniscus. He underwent arthroscopic surgery Wednesday.
In early May of 2000, Nebraska All-America catcher Justin Cowan had a similar injury to his left knee and he missed almost two weeks (and 10 games) before coming back to play in the Big 12 Tournament championship game and the rest of the postseason.
“We’re trying to hopefully get him ready for postseason, if we get there,” coach Mike Anderson said of Corriston.
In the meantime, the Huskers’ options at first are the right-handed-hitting Farst, who reached base twice Wednesday and boosted his batting average to .198 in just 31 at-bats, and right-handed-hitting junior Cody Neer.
Neer started at catcher Wednesday for the third time in four games, in part because NU’s top hitter and regular catcher, Mitch Abeita, was resting a thumb he sprained at Baylor on Sunday. Neer, a transfer from Florida, has made seven starts at first. Left-handed-hitting freshman Tyler Rank also has made two starts at that position.
“Tyler Rank’s pretty young to just stick over there and let him go. Tyler Farst, he’s building experience, and Cody’s done it for us at the beginning of this year,” Anderson said. “But we also need some offense in there, so we’re trying to figure it out. We’ll figure it out.”
Nebraska has a three-game series against Louisiana-Lafayette (22-23) on Friday and Saturday, then plays host to Big 12 Conference leader Texas A&M on May 9-11. After that, the Huskers play Creighton in Omaha, then conclude the regular season with a May 16-18 series at Missouri.
Before NCAA regional play begins on May 30, NU will play in the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City.
“I think we can put Farst over there, or Cody Neer, and hopefully they’ll contribute,” said senior second baseman Jake Opitz, who Wednesday smacked his third homer in four games. “Craig — great bat, great defensively — but we’ve got guys that’ll step in.”
Farst wasn’t bashful about doing so Wednesday.
After walking in the first inning, he keyed a three-run third by driving a hanging curveball from Frank Zenisek nearly out of the ballpark down the left-field line.
“It’s (been) more of a day-to-day thing, and if I get my opportunity I try and make the most of it,” Farst said. “Seeing a lot more live pitching definitely helps anybody out.
“I feel ready. I think I can jump in there and play a little first until Craig comes back.”
After Wednesday, Anderson could have a similar sentiment.
“I was proud of him. We stuck him right in the four-hole, right in the thick of things, and said, ‘Go get it done,’” he said. “We’re going to see better pitching and see some better things, and it’d be nice to find him in a groove early.”
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
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