LINCOLN — How much must Nebraska improve before its Big 12-opening baseball series next week at powerhouse Texas? The list of areas is long.

There’s the 6.41 ERA — not the improvement the Huskers wanted after posting a sky-high 6.22 mark a year ago in their first losing season under seven-year coach Mike Anderson.

The .270 batting average, .357 slugging percentage and four home runs in 10 games aren’t much better. Nor is the Huskers’ 3-7 record as they open at home today at 1:35 p.m. against Division II University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Top priority for NU, though, involves something less tangible than statistics.

“Determination to play every inning for nine solid,” Anderson said. “That’s been a trademark that we understand in this program. We’ve played good baseball at times this year, but we haven’t played nine solid all the time.

“That’s the No. 1 thing we’re looking for.”

Nationally ranked UCLA swept three games from the Huskers last weekend in Los Angeles, closing a rough three-week stretch for NU. As Nebraska settles at Haymarket Park for a five-game homestand against UNK, Houston Baptist and South Dakota State, the 10-game start marks their worst since 1997.

“I think we’re definitely better than a team that’s 3-7,” senior first baseman Tyler Farst said. “We’ve let a lot of games slip right through our fingertips. That’s something that we understand in our locker room. We have to be a team that plays all nine innings and plays hard all nine.”

The Huskers have led or been tied in the eighth inning in four of their seven losses. They’ve lost four games in their opponent’s final offensive inning, including three in walk-off fashion.

The late-game woes started in the season opener, a 7-5 loss at Fresno State on Feb. 19. The Bulldogs scored four runs off closer Mike Nesseth in the ninth inning.

Since, the Huskers have played with a “snake-bitten” feeling, Anderson said.

“Really, we haven’t gotten over it yet,” the coach said. “That first one happened, and you sense, ‘Here it comes again.’ We’ve got overcome it. The best way to overcome it is to be at home and do it ourselves.”

Right-handed pitcher Tyler Niederklein, a true freshman out of Millard West, is scheduled to start today against the 9-7 Lopers. Niederklein pitched the ninth inning of the Huskers’ Feb. 26 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in Houston, allowing two runs on one hit.

It’s not balmy Los Angeles or Houston, but the Huskers are happy to get home and hope it’s a remedy for some of their problems.

The remaining snow was cleared from the outfield last week. Considering the weather this winter, the field is in good condition. NU held its first outdoor practices of the year in Lincoln on Monday and Tuesday.

“It’s huge to be at home,” Farst said. “When our fans come out and show us support, it means everything to us as a team.”

Contact the writer:

402-444-1031, mitch.sherman@owh.com

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