Nebraska preseason All-America junior pitcher Tony Watson and senior pitcher Mike Harmelink didn’t travel with the Huskers for this weekend’s Rice University Invitational.

Harmelink was cited for driving while intoxicated early Thursday morning, and Watson was in the same vehicle, according to Lincoln police. 

The suspensions,  announced by coach Mike Anderson, are expected to be in effect only for this weekend. They are the second and third involving a Nebraska player in the last week. Senior first baseman Andrew Brown missed the season-opening tournament at Texas-Arlington.

Anderson expects Watson and Harmelink to be available when Nebraska travels to Deland, Fla., to play in the Stetson Invitational on March 2-3.

“These are the same standards we’ve had, and our kids have to rise to those standards,” Anderson said. “They made an error in their decision-making process, and the consequences of them not being here are justified.

“I don’t anticipate it being an issue (beyond this weekend). If they follow through and take care of business, they should be back with us — and I want them back with us.”

Neither player could be reached for comment Thursday.

Watson, a 6-foot-4 left-hander from Grimes, Iowa, was 10-2 with a 2.78 ERA last season. He won his first outing, against New Mexico last Friday, allowing just four hits and one run over six innings.

Harmelink, a 6-1 right-hander from Omaha Creighton Prep, made two relief appearances last weekend and retired five of six batters.

Drew Bowman, a left-handed sophomore transfer from Arizona State, will take Watson’s place in the rotation and start for NU today against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Bowman threw in relief twice last weekend, allowing two runs over three innings, while striking out four.

Briefly

* Live video from today’s 1 p.m. game at the Rice Invitational is available at www.Huskers.com. A subscription is required.

Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.