Nebraska’s baseball team is learning harshly the lesson of “close doesn’t count” - especially against one of the best teams in college baseball.

After getting blown out 13-1 by No. 14 UCLA in the opening game of a weekend series in Pasadena, the Cornhuskers had chances in games two and three to steal a win from Bruins.

But an absence of clutch hitting robbed NU of victories just as it had at Fresno State and Rice.

In its place, 5-3 and 5-4 losses for a UCLA sweep. For the weekend: 24 runners left on base and 45 strikeouts - including a school-record 19 in Saturday’s 5-4 setback. Over three games that’s 55 percent of NU’s outs.

“I’m glad we fought back, but this team doesn’t need moral victories,” head coach Mike Anderson said. “We’re going to be OK, but this team needs to figure out ways to win games, especially against big teams.”

It appeared that NU (3-7) had seized momentum in the final game of the series, erasing a 4-1 gap with three runs in the eighth inning. After Nebraska had loaded the bases with two singles and a hit batsman, sophomore Boomer Collins singled home Kale Kiser, and Adam Bailey screamed a double down the first base line to score Patric Tolentino and Kyle Bubak.

In the bottom of the ninth, however, UCLA (9-0) manufactured a run with a single, an error on ensuing bunt, a sac fly to advance the runners, an intentional walk to load the bases, and, finally, another sacrifice fly, on the first pitch from reliever Mike Nesseth. NU wasted a stellar outing from Casey Hauptmann, who got the loss despite throwing 6 1/3 nearly scoreless innings in relief of freshman starter Tom Lemke, who gave up four runs in the bottom of the second.

“Casey was outstanding,” Anderson said. “He’s earned some opportunities and I am proud of the way he pitched today.”

On Friday, Nebraska simply didn’t have enough answers for UCLA starters Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer. Cole threw seven innings in the opening, gave up just two hits and a run, and struck out nine. NU starter Sean Yost was replaced after 1 1/3 innings after giving up five runs.

In game two, the crafty Bauer wasn’t quite as dominant, although he stuck out ten. Nebraska had chances to score in the second with runners in scoring position, but NU’s Tyler Farst got caught in a rundown and was tagged out. While pitcher Michael Mariot hung in for the Huskers, he nevertheless gave up five runs in his starting stint.

Trailing 5-1, NU scored two in the eighth with RBI singles by Khiry Cooper and Kale Kiser. Leadoff hitter DJ Belfonte had a chance to tie the game, but he hit a hard ball straight at the first baseman, Justin Uribe, who ended the inning with a diving catch.

Nebraska now plays its home opener, weather permitting, at Haymarket Park vs. Nebraska-Kearney.

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See it here.

Not a ton of jaw-dropping changes, but here's the latest:

*Quentin Toailoa is no longer on it. No surprise there. Toailoa hasn't been right since getting two shoulder surgeries his freshman year.

*Khiry Cooper moves from No. 6 to No.1

*Chase Rome is No. 97.

*Jay Guy takes Barry Turner's old No. 99

*Baseball-pitcher-turned-QB Joe Broekemeier is now a wide receiver. Last fall, then-safety Larry Asante said Broekemeier ran good routes and made tough catches, for what it's worth.

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More Pop: Nebraska used to be a team that consistently hit home runs - especially in big games. But the Huskers haven’t been a power-hitting since 2006. During that year, NU had four players slug .530 or better. In 2009, just one - Adam Bailey. And he did most of his damage in the non-conference season.

Freshman Flamers: Nick Dolsky, Kurt Giller, Tom Lemke all figure to play a big role in the pitching rotation, and how quickly they adjust to college game - preferably dominate the opposition - could determine whether NU goes to a regional, or whether it’s sweating out the last half of its season. The faster they throw strikes, the better.

Roualdes Rising: Nebraska’s pitching staff is loaded with tall, hard-throwing right handers. But Roualdes is the most experienced, best option as a lefty. He needs to be a consistent weekend starter, or an option Anderson can turn to as a match-up problem.

A New Cooper: Sophomore outfielder Khiry Cooper just couldn’t hang with collegiate pitching last year; head coach Mike Anderson said he’s worked harder this spring to adjust to the college level and will fight for more playing time. Cooper is a superb athlete, but he needs more plate discipline. If he can give NU a .300 average and some timely home runs, the Huskers’ offense will be all the better.

A Break in the Weather: Nebraska needs some outdoor practice time over the next month, and it can definitely use those handful of home games before the Texas series in early March. All the Huskers can do is cross their fingers and pray.

See also: A New Attitude and Anderson Not Backing Down

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Befitting of the relative end to Nebraska’s fall camp, NU head coach Bo Pelini took on a low-key, reflective tone after Friday’s workout and scrimmage, held on the grass fields outside Hawks Center.

Pelini described the final two practices of the week as “decent,” certainly better than the Cornhuskers’ weak offering of effort and execution on Wednesday, which left Pelini roiling afterward.

“Our attention to detail still needs to get better,” Pelini said. “We’re sloppy at times. Seeing some penalties here and there. Not as crisp and as sharp as I’d like to see it. But I’m seeing some good things, too. The effort was good.

“I always think we should be further ahead, but going into the game, I think we got a lot done through camp. We’ll hone in, obviously, from here on out on Florida Atlantic, and I think that’ll help some of the guys.”

NU continues to learn a lesson, Pelini said, about “championship-caliber” practices. The Husker fell short of the standard, he said, on Wednesday, by “coming out to get through it, rather than get better.”

“If you don’t compete, then other people will pass you by,” Pelini said. “That’s what we were last year. We didn’t always come out here with the right attitude, the right framework, the right focus. And it showed at times. Hopefully this year we’ll be a little more mature.”

Although one presumes Pelini will release a depth chart at Tuesday’s press conference, Nebraska’s starting lineup “won’t be set until the end of next week.”

Competition continues at receiver, where Pelini mentioned a number of players – including sophomore Curenski Gilleylen, seniors Menelik Holt and Chris Brooks, and freshmen Antonio Bell and Khiry Cooper – as guys vying for time behind alongside junior Niles Paul, who nailed the No. 1 receiver job during fall camp.

“It’s a mix of guys,” Pelini said. “We’re not sure who’s gonna step out there and really take control of the position yet.”

Cooper, who spent last fall on the scout team and last spring playing baseball for the Cornhuskers, isn’t a name that’s been thrown around much so far in camp.

“He’s talented young man,” Pelini said. “I expect him to really step up and make some plays for us.”

Pelini briefly dished on Florida Atlantic, saying the Owls had “a lot of talent, a Lot of speed and good skill guys.” He also confirmed that he recommended Quentin Castille – whom Pelini booted off the team last week – to Castille’s new school, Northwestern (La.) State, which is coached by one of Pelini’s former assistants at LSU, Bradley Dale Peveto.

“I know that coach well, and he called me about ‘Q’ and I told him they’d be well-served to have him on their football team,” Pelini said.

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Nebraska wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore had wanted to find his six or seven top candidates for playing by the end of last week.

On Tuesday, Gilmore said, he’s carrying the competition over to the end of this week. As of now, only one player – junior Niles Paul – has earned significant playing time, and another sophomore Marcus Mendoza, moved back to running back. That leaves roughly a dozen players for five spots.

Well, maybe five more spots.

“You knew what? I threw that number out, six, but if two of them are doing it, then two of them are going to play,” Gilmore said. “I’m looking for the best football players.

And if NU needs four pass-catchers for a third down, who fills the role? Tight ends?

“There you go,” Gilmore said. “We’re gonna put the best 11 players on the football field.”

The receiving corps has until the end of this week to prevent Gilmore and offensive coordinator Shawn Watson from implementing any kind of plan out of the Norman Dale handbook.

Said Watson: “They’re competing. We’ll find out who those guys are. We’ll give them to the end of the week to figure it out.”

Here are the likeliest candidates for those roles:

Senior Chris Brooks: Battled injuries, expectations and bouts of inconsistency to earn more playing time at the end of 2008. He was NU’s No. 5 receiver and occasionally lined up in the slot. He caught a touchdown pass vs. Kansas.

Senior Menelik Holt: Has been slated to start by pundits and most fans since the start of spring football, but the coaching staff has handed the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder nothing thus far. Holt had 31 catches in 2008.

Senior Wes Cammack: Specialist on kick coverage units in 2008, finishing with nine tackles. He caught a touchdown in the spring game and just went on scholarship last week.

Junior Will Henry: A 6-5, slender outside receiver who had strong practice sessions in late 2008 and during the spring. Gilmore said last week Henry’s had a fair camp, but hadn’t made any standout plays.

Junior Adam Watson: Shawn Watson’s son. Converted walk-on safety.

Sophomore Curenski Gilleylen: With speed to burn and a good frame, he could be a front-runner at slot, but he’s struggled catching the ball at times.

Sophomore Brandon Kinnie: Looks the part at 6-3, 220 pounds, but is “sinking” in terms of learning the playbook.

“He hasn’t really shown what he can do,” Gilmore said. “And you can see it in his play. His hesitation…once he gets it, we’ve got something good there.”

Redshirt freshman Khiry Cooper: The two-sport kid who missed all of spring camp playing baseball.

Redshirt freshman Steven Osborne: Tall, lanky guy whose brother, Courtney, plays defensive back. Gilmore has alternately praised and been tough on Osborne during fall camp.

Redshirt freshman Tim Marlowe: Small, speedy slot guy whom Gilmore has praised a couple times in camp.

True freshman Antonio Bell: Nicknamed “Lil Frantz” because he has a frame and speed like former NU receiver Frantz Hardy, Bell has shown good receiving skills. Now it’s a matter of blocking and getting separation at the line of scrimmage. Same obstacles Hardy had, although Hardy enjoyed a solid career, and caught 54 passes for 971 yards and seven touchdowns during his career.

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It’s one of the three phases, right? And it literally saved Nebraska’s hide in a 40-31 win over Colorado.

So of course we’ve got five fall camp questions for NU’s special teams units. Click here for the offensive questions and here for the defensive questions.

Now – let’s get to it.

What can Alex Henery do for an encore?

He can punt, that’s what, and Nebraska needs a good one. Field position is a defense’s best friend, and too often in 2008, previous punter Dan Titchener wasn’t up to the task. We’ve seen Henery thump some real bombs in practice, but that’s just practice. NU will be better off if Henery wins the job over walk-on Brett Maher, but not if it distracts him from what he does well – which is boot game-winning, mind-boggling field goals.

Snapper? Holder? Anyone?

T.J. O’Leary and Jake Wesch have left the building, so these two jobs are as wide open as the Nebraska prairie. NU would like to see true freshman walk-on P.J. Mangieri – one of the nation’s best pure high school snappers – assume that role for four years for the Huskers, and maybe take that skill to the NFL. As for holder…well, if Henery’s the punter, too, then it can’t be him. We’d prefer a backup quarterback, but we won’t pitch a Joe Thiesmann fit if it doesn’t happen. Just know that, when you least want it to happen, these two little roles can botch a perfectly simple punt or field goal try.

On punt returns - Niles Paul or the pups?

Paul wasn’t exactly inspiring in the role early last year before Nate Swift took it over (again) and did a fine job. There would be seem to be plenty of candidates for this role – Antonio Bell, Tim Marlowe, Rex Burkhead, Khiry Cooper – but, of course, they’ll have to earn it. NU chose the conservative route with Swift in 2008, and it actually paid off.

True freshmen on the coverage teams?

Last year, Bo Pelini’s massive redshirting campaign probably kept some excellent candidates from helping out in the special teams department, although Alfonzo Dennard and Mason Wald (since departed) lent their hands to the cause. How does Pelini, and special teams guy John Papuchis, revamp that plan in 2009? Business as usual, use the redshirts from last year, or populate those units with true freshmen, presuming they’re ready? We wouldn’t be shocked if a guy like Dijon Washington takes on the Dennard/Rickey Thenarse role on this year’s squad.

Can Adi Kunalic continue the magic?

He’s the best kickoff specialist in the nation – when he kicks a touchback. When Kunalic doesn’t boot it beyond the end zone, his low, driving boots tend to be quite returnable. Supposedly he’s worked on angled kicks, pop-up kicks, and the like. Hopefully Nebraska fans see the fruits of his labor in 2009.

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Adam Bailey and Khiry Cooper have slipped on those snazzy, sleeveless Nebraska baseball jerseys for all of five games in their career. But their impact has been immediate.

Cooper, a ballyhooed freshman, and Bailey, an equally anticipated transfer from Scottsdale Community College, teamed up Wednesday to drive in eight of NU's ten runs in a 10-6 win over North Dakota at Hawks Field, where more than 3,000 fans, some still in their business casual dresswear, enjoyed a rare February baseball game played in 60-degree temperatures.

The crowd got their money's worth, too, as the Cornhuskers (3-1-1) didn't finish off the Sioux (0-4) until the bottom of the eighth inning, when they exploded for five runs to turn a 6-5 deficit into a four-run lead.

Cooper, who doubles as a receiver on the Nebraska football team, knocked in the first two runs of that inning with a single to center. Later in the eighth, Bailey, a junior, notched the last two of his six RBI with a double to right field.

NU is now 30-0 in February home games - hard to believe that many have been played, much less won - while Casey Hauptmann got the win in relief.

Read more about the game here.

The competition gets a bit stiffer this weekend in Huntsville, Texas, as Nebraska takes on Missouri State twice and Sam Houston State and St. Mary's once.

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Did Nebraska's baseball team happen to stow a kitchen sink in the overhead compartment of its plane to and from Louisiana Lafayette?

The young Cornhuskers sampled a little bit of everything in its opening weekend at the Ragin Cajuns, finishing 2-1-1 in front of healthy crowds at Moore Field. The final game of the series ended in a 5-5 tie, as a 2:45 p.m. deadline had been set Sunday for the Huskers to board their plane back for Lincoln. The final innings were played under protest, as NU coach Mike Anderson disputed a play in which he felt a Lafayette runner had interfered with Nebraska first baseman Tyler Farst catching a fly ball.

You can read more about each game at NU's terrific baseball site, as comprehensive as we've seen.

What we'll do is highlight some performances:

Welcome back, senior Jeff Tezak. The second baseman redshirted last year to rehab a torn ACL, and returned this weekend impressively, hitting .400 (6-for-15) with an on-base percentage of .471.

Sophomore shortstop Ben Kline hit .375 (6-for-16) with six RBI for the weekend. Took a walk, too. He only had five of those all last season.

Sophomore Mike Nesseth took a loss in Saturday's first game, but not for a lack of trying. He pitched six innings, struck out seven and gave up just two hits. Nice first trip to the hill.

Ditto for sophomore Michael Mariot, who battled out of some tough situations in game one and struck out eight while pitching 5 2/3 innings. He got smacked around a little, yeah, but he did a little smacking of his own, too. We'll take the 8 Ks.

In three relief appearances, sophomore Eric Rose generally did what he was supposed to: Limit damage and shut the door when necessary.

The latest of those Millard South studs, sophomore pitcher Casey Hauptmann threw a beautiful five innings in relief of Mariot Friday night. Could Hauptmann be that No. 3 starter?

And finally, we give you freshman Khiry Cooper, who sure didn't disappoint when he got the chance to start in Sunday's final game, hitting a two-run homer as part of a three-hit game. We know NU coach Mike Anderson plans to bring Cooper along at a certain pace. But if Cooper can accelerate it...

We're probably missing a few, but that's what stood out to us. On to a midweek game at Haymarket that should be played under, well, some of the most gorgeous weather you could possibly have in February. Try 60 degrees.

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There's a certain expectation when a dude gets picked in an early round of the Major League Baseball Draft. For a guy like Nebraska's Khiry Cooper, picked in the fifth round by the Los Angeles Angels, the assumption was a kid that coveted might be able to crack the starting lineup for opening day.

Coach Mike Anderson, who's dealt with his share of phenomenal baseball talent - Alex Gordon and Joba Chamberlain come to mind - is careful not to put too much on the kid who also plays wide receiver for NU's football team. Oh, he'll have a role on the Cornhuskers' 2009 squad. Anderson is sure of that.

"He's not going to redshirt," Anderson said.

But now is the time to be "really, really patient."

"It's a gradual learning process," Anderson said.

Now that Cooper acclimated himself with the team and is "on page," it'll be time, Anderson said, to figure out how he fits in with his bat and glove. He might be NU's best threat on the bases with his speed; let's see if Anderson is able to insert him as a pinch runner in the opening series vs. Louisiana-Lafayette.

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