'Terrible' to tie
If you think Nebraska's 24-4-1 overall record and 10-1-1 Big 12 Conference mark looks a little strange, you're not alone. Nearly three weeks after his Cornhuskers and Oklahoma played to an 8-8 tie in 10 innings on March 23 against Oklahoma, coach Mike Anderson said he still has a bit of a sour taste in his mouth.
The reason for the tie is a Big 12 Conference rule that puts a deadline on when the final inning of a Sunday game came start. The purpose is to allow visiting teams ample time to make it to the airport to board commercial flights and return to their campus at a decent hour.
"Obviously, nobody likes a tie," Anderson said. "I can't look at a tie as anything but bad. That's just terrible."
Anderson isn't one to complain, but said the rule that forced the tie will probably remain in place until athletic programs allow baseball teams to budget for charter flights.
"That's the way baseball is," Anderson said.
Confident Cowboys?
No. 21-ranked Oklahoma State enters this weekend's series against No. 6-ranked Nebraska with a 21-9 overall record and the Cowboys are tied for fifth in the Big 12 standings with a 6-6 league mark.
OSU coach Frank Anderson said he's pleased with his team's start, especially considering that the Cowboys began the year with seven new position players and have a weekend rotation that features three sophomore starters.
"With the change in the schedule and not having as many games as we'd like before we start conference (play), we're still kind of a work in progress, but it's getting a little bit closer, position-player wise," Anderson said. "It's been tough at times because we've played really well against some highly ranked teams and we've played bad at other times and a lot of that has to do with the newness of our club."
Despite the inexperience, Oklahoma State took two of three games last weekend on the road against highly touted Missouri. Anderson said he's hopeful that series win will give his team confidence.
"We didn't play real pretty, but we ground out a couple of wins and that's a very good ballclub up there, especially (at home)," Anderson said. "It has to help down the road, you'd think, as far as your confidence level."
Stillwater struggles
Nebraska has traditionally struggled against Oklahoma State at Stillwater, Okla. The Cowboys lead the all-time series 109-71 over the Huskers and have only lost one home series to NU at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium since it was built in 1981.
"With no disrespect to Stillwater or Oklahoma State University or Frank Anderson or his team, there's never a good time to go to Stillwater," Nebraska coach Mike Anderson said. "They play well at home. They do a great job and they're obviously a nationally ranked team and a nationally competitive team.
"They do a lot of things right, so it's always tough to go down there and play them. I'd much rather have them at a neutral site or have them at home, but they're a very good ballclub."
Initial impressions
OSU coach Frank Anderson said he's been impressed by Nebraska's play so far this season. He added that it's "neat" to see a team be so successful on the strength of a team-first concept.
"There's probably not an Alex Gordon or some guy like that sitting in there lineup that I know of at this point, but they just have a really good college baseball team," Anderson said. "And I think (NU pitching coach) Eric Newman has helped kind of solidify things and he's done a great job with their pitching."
Diamond notes
* With a 24-4-1 record, Nebraska is enjoying one of its best starts since the program began in 1889. Only the 1983 (27-2) and 2005 (25-4) squads have had better records at the 29-game mark.
* With his five RBIs against Texas Tech on Sunday, Nick Sullivan drove in more runs in one day than his entire 2007 season total of four in 30 games
* The Huskers have won their last four Big 12 series on the road dating back to 2007, including series wins at nationally ranked Oklahoma and Texas.
* Nebraska catcher Mitch Abeita is batting .424 (14-for-33) with a homer and seven RBIs in his last 10 contests.
* Despite losing six pitchers selected in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft and returning only five pitchers from last year's staff, the Huskers lead the Big 12 and rank third nationally with a 2.86 ERA entering this weekend.
Terry Douglass
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