Nothing like a six-game home winning streak to get Nebraska talking about confidence, fitting different pieces of the puzzle and, of course, winning.
The Huskers, who started the season 3-9 on three road trips, swept a four-game series against Loyola Marymount — the first four-game sweep since 2011 — with a 5-4 victory Sunday before 2,264 fans at Haymarket Park.
Huskers Ben Miller and Scott Schreiber homered to stake Nebraska to a 4-1 lead through four innings.
Loyola Marymount (6-10) rallied on a three-run home run in the fifth to tie the game, but NU scratched a run across in the fifth on a single, two walks and a hit batter to take the lead for good.
Five Husker relievers combined to shut out the Lions in the final 42/3 innings. Nebraska pitchers gave up just two walks and struck out six.
For the sweep, NU pitchers allowed 26 hits, eight runs, walked eight and struck out 27. Two weeks ago, Husker pitching had a combined 8.13 earned-run average and while walking an average of seven a game.
Now, after the six-game win streak, the ERA is 4.05. In the homestand so far, Nebraska has an 1.33 ERA, allowed 33 hits, allowed eight earned runs, walked 15 and struck out 45. Husker relievers held LMU scoreless in 12 innings over the weekend.
"That's why we're here," said Husker pitching coach Ted Silva, who used 11 different pitchers in the weekend sweep. "Two weeks ago, people were yelling at us and we're still trying to figure out the puzzle. But we are getting people comfortable and we're not giving out free passes.
"I don't know how good it is but two weeks ago we were scuffling and searching. I wish we had all the answers early, but it's why everybody gets the opportunities."
Freshmen Byron Hood, Chad Luensmann — who picked up saves in the last two wins — and Jake McSteen, who started Sunday, have been very strong of late.
"Some take longer to develop than others, but it's about creating confidence," Silva said. "When we walked out in Charleston (against College of Charleston in South Carolina), and we don't know what it's like in a competitive situation."
Head coach Darin Erstad agreed.
He noted how solid the starting pitching has been and how steady the relief staff has performed.
Silva added, "The goal is to get everybody as more comfortable.
"A lot of guys, … they don't know when their numbers are going to be called so they are on high alert, ready to go. It's fun, they all know they might get the ball."
Miller, who hit his third home run of the season in the first inning and singled in the winning run, said he can feel the confidence growing in the pitching staff.
"Our pitching has really gotten down of late and we've seen a lot of young pitchers getting acclimated," he said after this three-hit, two-RBI day. "They've been awesome.
"They're great pitchers and, yeah, they've gotten more comfortable in their roles."
Erstad, whose team is 9-6 and hosts Wichita State in a three-game series starting Friday, was happy with Sunday's victory.
"It meant something to get a sweep this weekend," he said. "We got punched in the face with a three-run home run and we jumped right back on them. Fun college game to watch."
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The Huskers, who started the season 3-9 on three road trips, swept a four-game series against Loyola Marymount — the first four-game sweep since 2011 — with a 5-4 victory Sunday before 2,264 fans at Haymarket Park.
Huskers Ben Miller and Scott Schreiber homered to stake Nebraska to a 4-1 lead through four innings.
Loyola Marymount (6-10) rallied on a three-run home run in the fifth to tie the game, but NU scratched a run across in the fifth on a single, two walks and a hit batter to take the lead for good.
Five Husker relievers combined to shut out the Lions in the final 42/3 innings. Nebraska pitchers gave up just two walks and struck out six.
For the sweep, NU pitchers allowed 26 hits, eight runs, walked eight and struck out 27. Two weeks ago, Husker pitching had a combined 8.13 earned-run average and while walking an average of seven a game.
Now, after the six-game win streak, the ERA is 4.05. In the homestand so far, Nebraska has an 1.33 ERA, allowed 33 hits, allowed eight earned runs, walked 15 and struck out 45. Husker relievers held LMU scoreless in 12 innings over the weekend.
"That's why we're here," said Husker pitching coach Ted Silva, who used 11 different pitchers in the weekend sweep. "Two weeks ago, people were yelling at us and we're still trying to figure out the puzzle. But we are getting people comfortable and we're not giving out free passes.
"I don't know how good it is but two weeks ago we were scuffling and searching. I wish we had all the answers early, but it's why everybody gets the opportunities."
Freshmen Byron Hood, Chad Luensmann — who picked up saves in the last two wins — and Jake McSteen, who started Sunday, have been very strong of late.
"Some take longer to develop than others, but it's about creating confidence," Silva said. "When we walked out in Charleston (against College of Charleston in South Carolina), and we don't know what it's like in a competitive situation."
Head coach Darin Erstad agreed.
He noted how solid the starting pitching has been and how steady the relief staff has performed.
Silva added, "The goal is to get everybody as more comfortable.
"A lot of guys, … they don't know when their numbers are going to be called so they are on high alert, ready to go. It's fun, they all know they might get the ball."
Miller, who hit his third home run of the season in the first inning and singled in the winning run, said he can feel the confidence growing in the pitching staff.
"Our pitching has really gotten down of late and we've seen a lot of young pitchers getting acclimated," he said after this three-hit, two-RBI day. "They've been awesome.
"They're great pitchers and, yeah, they've gotten more comfortable in their roles."
Erstad, whose team is 9-6 and hosts Wichita State in a three-game series starting Friday, was happy with Sunday's victory.
"It meant something to get a sweep this weekend," he said. "We got punched in the face with a three-run home run and we jumped right back on them. Fun college game to watch."
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