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Huskers must play the waiting game on their NCAA future

Nebraska won't find out their NCAA fate until Monday at 11 am.
Nebraska won't find out their NCAA fate until Monday at 11 am.

After coming into the Big Ten baseball tournament as one of the hottest teams in college baseball, most experts projected Nebraska squarely in the field of 64.

The Huskers (37-20) were eliminated though after 2 games, leaving some question if that was still the case. NU’s RPI still remains in the low 40’s after losses to Michigan State and Indiana in Omaha.

All Nebraska can do now is wait until the official NCAA selection show on Monday at 11 am.

“It’s unchartered water for me as well as a head coach,” NU head coach Darin Erstad said. “It’s one of those things where we are going to continue to prepare like we are going to play. We are going to try to get as healthy as we can. I’m sure I’ll give them (Friday) off just to catch their breath, but we’ll get back at it.”

Another thing the committee will probably look at closely is the Huskers were playing without their best player, first basemen Scott Schreiber, who was swinging one of the hottest bats in the country over the last month.

“It’s definitely one of those things we’ve put ourselves in this situation and I feel that we are deserving,” Erstad said. “When we are full strength we are pretty good, so hopefully we have an opportunity to show that.”

For players like junior outfield Ryan Boldt, sitting around the next few days will not be easy, but the Minnesota native feels like the Big Red has made a strong case over the course of the regular season to get into the tournament.

“I’ve never really been a part of a waiting game like this, so we’ll see,” Boldt said. “Obviously we’ll be ready to play if our name gets called and we’ll go from there.

“Ultimately it’s not really up to us. We tried to put our best foot forward and obviously we didn’t get it done in the tournament, but we’ll see.”

Freshman pitcher Matt Waldron has been one of the hottest arms in the Big Ten over the last month, leading this Husker staff over their May surge.

Waldron was once again sharp for most of Thursday’s game against Indiana, and he’s hopeful to get one more opportunity.

“I guess it will just be a waiting game and something I’m not used to,” Waldron said. “We just hope for the best and hope we get a chance.”

You got the sense though Erstad feels pretty good about his team’s chances to get in, despite the struggles the last few days in Omaha.

“We played strong down the stretch,” Erstad said. “If you are looking at RPI, I think we put ourselves in a good position there. I just feel like we can play with anybody in the country. I don’t think the Big Ten gets credit for how good it really is.”

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