2005 Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team

The 2005 Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team was Mike Anderson's third year as head coach. The Huskers played their home games at Hawks Field.

2004 Nebraska posted a 36–23 record, with 14 of the losses being by two runs or less as they barely missed their first NCAA regional appearance since 1998. However, the Huskers were the only Big 12 team not shut out during the whole season, and they established a school record and ranked eighth nationally with a .975 fielding percentage shattering the previous best of .971. A few honors include Big 12 player of the years and first-team All-American third baseman Alex Gordon and All-Big 12 selections Zach Kroenke, Curtis Ledbetter and Joe Simokaitis.

Preseason The Huskers returned six everyday position players along with three of their top four weekend starters Will Bolt was promoted to volunteer assistant coach overseeing the infielders and assist with the hitters. He was on the staff serving as a graduate manager for the 2004 season. Collegiate Baseball rated Nebraska's class of 23 newcomers, which includes 16 freshmen, six junior college transfers and Nebraska-Kearney transfer Joba Chamberlain, 16th nationally ranking which is the highest ever for a class of Husker newcomers. Four high school seniors and four junior college transfers have signed National Letters-of-Intent to play baseball at Nebraska beginning in the 2005–06 season. Alex Gordon was selected to the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List, Preseason NCBWA All-America First-Team, and was the Collegiate Baseball Preseason Player of the Year.

Roster Number Name Height/Weight Position Class 2 6–1 / 195 Shortstop Senior 3 5–11 / 190 Second base Freshman 4 6–1 / 215 Third base Junior 5 6–3 / 220 Catcher Junior 8 6–1 / 195 Outfield Senior 9 6–1 / 190 Outfield Junior 10 6–3 / 195 Second base / Shortstop Freshman 11 6–2 / 205 Infield Sophomore 12 6–0 / 185 Outfield Senior 13 6–5 / 225 Pitcher Freshman 14 6–3 / 220 Outfield Senior 15 6–3 / 215 First base Senior 16 6–1 / 210 Catcher Junior 17 5–11 / 185 Infield Freshman 18 6–0 / 195 Pitcher Junior 19 6–6 / 220 DH / First base Junior 20 6–1 / 175 Pitcher Freshman 21 5–11 / 200 Outfield Freshman 22 6–6 / 200 Pitcher Sophomore 23 6–3 / 205 Pitcher Freshman 24 5–11 / 170 Outfield Freshman 25 6–1 / 200 Pitcher Freshman 26 6–1 / 205 Outfield Freshman 28 6–4 / 225 Infield Freshman 30 6–4 / 195 Pitcher Freshman 31 6–0 / 170 Pitcher Freshman 32 6–2 / 225 First base Sophomore 33 6–7 / 190 Pitcher Junior 34 6–2 / 205 Pitcher Junior 35 6–3 / 210 Pitcher Senior 36 6–3 / 220 Pitcher Freshman 38 6–4 / 185 Pitcher Senior 39 6–0 / 200 Pitcher Sophomore 40 6–3 / 190 Pitcher Freshman 42 5–11 / 220 Pitcher Senior 43 5–10 / 175 Outfield Freshman 44 6–3 / 225 Pitcher Sophomore 45 5–11 / 195 Catcher Freshman 47 6–4 / 185 Pitcher Freshman 50 5–10 / 170 Infield Freshman

Schedule 2005 Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball Game Log Date Location NU Rank Opponent Winning Pitcher Losing Pitcher Save by Result Record (Big 12) Feb. 17 Hilo, Hawaii NR Hawaii-Hilo Timm (1–0) Biggs (0–4) W 12–4 1–0 Feb. 18 Hilo, Hawaii NR Hawaii-Hilo Jensen (1–0) Matson (0–4) W 2–1 2–0 Feb. 18 Hilo, Hawaii NR Hawaii-Hilo Duensing (1–0) Olszewski Bohanan (1) W 5–1 3–0 Feb. 19 Hilo, Hawaii NR Hawaii-Hilo Watson (1–0) Pinasco (0–2) Jensen (1) W 6–3 4–0 Feb. 20 Hilo, Hawaii NR Hawaii-Hilo P. Shirek (1–0) Neuberger (0–1) W 8–1 5–0 Feb. 25 Houston, Texas, 27 New Mexico Chamberlain (1–0) Fernandez (2–2) W 12–0 6–0 Feb. 27 Houston, Texas 27 #7 Rice Duensing (2–0) Cox (0–1) Jensen (2) W 6–3 7–0 March 4 Round Rock, Texas, 18 #7 Rice Chamberlain (2–0) Savery (2–1) Timm (1) W 4–3 8–0 March 5 Round Rock, Texas 18 Texas State Moore (3–0) Dorn (0–1) L 1 - 2 8–1 March 6 Round Rock, Texas 18 USC Koss (1–0) Watson (1–1) Smith (1) L 4–5 8–2 March 11 Hawks Field 22 South Dakota State Chamberlain (3–0) Bothof (1–1) W 7–2 9–2 March 12 Hawks Field 22 South Dakota State Kroenke (1–0) Torres (0–3) W 15–1 10–2 March 12 Hawks Field 22 South Dakota State Dorn (1–1) Decker (0–1) W 15–3 11–2 March 13 Hawks Field 22 South Dakota State P. Shirek (2–0) Elliott (0–3) W 17–4 12–2 March 15 Hawks Field 21 Northern Colorado Duensing (3–0) Leines (1–1) W 15–4 13–2 March 16 Hawks Field 21 Northern Colorado Watson (2–1) Ayers (0–5) Jensen (3) W 5–2 14–2 March 17 Hawks Field 21 Northern Colorado Dorn (2–1) Sands (0–1) W 10–2 15–2 March 18 Hawks Field 21 Seton Hall Chamberlain (4–0) Haggerty (2–2) Jensen (4) W 6–2 16–2 March 19 Hawks Field 21 Seton Hall Kroenke (2–0) Sabo (0–3) W 11–2 17–2 March 20 Hawks Field 21 Seton Hall P. Shirek (3–0) Irwin (0–1) W 10–3 18–2 March 22 Hawks Field Canceled March 23 Hawks Field 9 Western Illinois Watson (3–1) Navin (0–5) Jensen (5) W 6–3 19–2 March 26 Lawrence, Kansas 9 Kansas Czyz (2–1) Jensen (1–1) L 6–7 19–3 (0–1) March 26 Lawrence, Kansas 9 Kansas Kroenke (3–0) Land (2–2) Dorn (1) W 9–3 20–3 (1–1) March 27 Lawrence, Kansas 9 Kansas Duensing (4–0) Quick (7–2) W 9–4 21–3 (2–1) March 29 Hawks Field 7 Creighton Dorn (3–1) Bilek (2–1) W 10–2 22–3 (2–1) April 1 Hawks Field 7 #29 Oklahoma State Timm(2–0) Cowley (6–2) W 8–4 23–3 (3–1) April 2 Hawks Field 7 #29 Oklahoma State Kroenke (4–0) Rivas (1–2) W 6–0 24–3 (4–1) April 3 Hawks Field 7 #29 Oklahoma State Duensing (5–0) Richmond (2–2) W 10–0 25–3 (5–1) April 5 Rosenblatt Stadium 4 Creighton Reese (8–0) Timm (2–1) L 3–4 25–4 (5–1) April 6 Hawks Field 4 Iowa Dorn (4–1) Sweet (0–2) W 6–1 26–4 (5–1) April 8 Hawks Field 4 #1 Texas Timm (3–1) Cody (3–1) W 4–3 27–4 (6–1) April 9 Hawks Field 4 #1 Texas Alaniz (2–0) Kroenke (4–1) Cody (1) L 4–11 27–5 (6–2) April 10 Hawks Field 4 #1 Texas Stewart (7–0) P. Shirek (3–1) J.B. Cox (8) L 5–6 27–6 (6–3) April 12 Hawks Field Postponed April 13 Hawks Field 10 North Dakota State Watson (4–1) Tchida (0–4) W 12–1 28–6 (6–3) April 13 Hawks Field 10 North Dakota State Bohanan (1–0) Branca (0–1) Foust (1) W 10–0 29–6 (6–3) April 15 College Station, Texas, 10 Texas A&M Chamberlain (5–0) Meyer (5–2) W 2–1 30–6 (7–3) April 16 College Station, Texas 10 Texas A&M Turner (2–2) Jensen (1–2) L 4–5 30–7 (7–4) April 17 College Station, Texas 10 Texas A&M Dorn (5–1) Corgan (3–2) W 6–4 31–7 (8–4) April 20 Des Moines, Iowa 7 Northern Iowa Becker (1–0) Rinnan (0–1) Jensen (6) W 7–4 32-7 (8–4) April 22 Hawks Field 7 #8 Baylor Chamberlain (6–0) Taylor (4–4) W 8–4 33–7 (9–4) April 23 Hawks Field 7 #8 Baylor McCormick (6–2) Kroenke (4–2) LaMotta (4) L 1–4 33–8 (9–5) April 24 Hawks Field 7 #8 Baylor Dorn (6–1) VanAllen (6–3) W 4–3 34–8 (10–5) April 27 Wichita, Kansas 5 Wichita State P. Shirek (4–1) Touchatt (3–1) Jensen (7) W 4–2 35-8 (10–5) April 28 Norman, Oklahoma 5 Oklahoma McCutchen (2–3) Chamberlain (6–1) L 1–5 35–9 (10–6) April 29 Norman, Oklahoma 5 Oklahoma Kroenke (5–2) Guerra (4–5) W 8–1 36–9 (11–6) April 30 Norman, Oklahoma 5 Oklahoma Dorn (7–1) Patterson W 7–1 37–9 (12–6) May 6 Hawks Field 5 #17 Missouri Scherzer (7–2) Chamberlain (6–2) L 1–2 37–10 (12–7) May 7 Hawks Field 5 #17 Missouri Timm (4–1) Admire (2–1) Jensen (8) W 7–5 38–10 (13–7) May 8 Hawks Field 5 #17 Missouri Jensen (2–2) Johnston (2–3) W 6–5 39–10 (14–7) May 10 Rosenblatt Stadium 3 Creighton Reese (10–0) Bohanan (1–1) Bird (5) L 3–5 39–11 (14–7) May 13 Lubbock, Texas, 3 Texas Tech Duensing (6–0) Carnline (6–3) W 9–4 40–11 (15–7) May 14 Lubbock, Texas 3 Texas Tech Dorn (8–1) Richardson (1–1) W 6–1 41–11 (16–7) May 15 Lubbock, Texas 3 Texas Tech Carnline (7–3) Jensen (2–3) L 6–7 41–12 (16–8) May 17 Hawks Field 5 Northern Illinois Watson (5–1) J. Hall (0–1) W 10–2 42–12 (16–8) May 18 Hawks Field 5 Northern Illinois Wertz (1–0) N. Hall (3–7) Jensen (9) W 3–2 43–12 (16–8) May 20 Hawks Field 5 Kansas State Chamberlain (7–2) Mitchell (7–6) Jensen (10) W 5–4 44–12 (17–8) May 21 Hawks Field 5 Kansas State Dorn (9–1) Hutt (2–1) Jensen (11) W 10–6 45–12 (18–8) May 22 Hawks Field 5 Kansas State Kroenke (6–2) Cowart (5–3) W 3–1 46–12 (19–8) Date Location NU Rank Opponent Winning Pitcher Losing Pitcher Save by Result Record (Big 12) May 25 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 4 Texas Tech Lawford (4–6) Jensen (2–4) L 3–5 46–13 (19–8) May 26 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 4 Oklahoma Chamberlain (8–2) Patterson (6–3) Kroenke (1) W 6–3 47–13 (19–8) May 27 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 4 Texas Tech Dorn (10–1) Ta., McElroy (2–4) W 2–1 48–13 (19–8) May 28 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 4 Missouri Jensen (3–4) Johnston (4–4) W 5–4 49–13 (19–8) May 28 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 4 Missouri Watson (6–1) Admire (2–3) P. Shirek (1) W 17–9 50–13 (19–8) May 29 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 4 Baylor Duensing (7–0) McCormick (7–3) Jensen(12) W 1–0 51–13 (19–8) Date Location NU Rank Opponent Winning Pitcher Losing Pitcher Save by Result Record (Big 12) June 3 Hawks Field 3 Illinois-Chicago Duensing (8–0) Zink (8–6) Jensen (13) W 8–6 52–13 (19–8) June 4 Hawks Field 3 Creighton Dorn (11–1) Schaecher (6–4) Watson (1) W 10–8 53–13 (19–8) June 5 Hawks Field 3 Creighton Kroenke (7–2) Mancuso (1–1) W 10–2 54–13 (19–8) Date Location NU Rank Opponent Winning Pitcher Losing Pitcher Save by Result Record (Big 12) June 10 Hawks Field 3 Miami Chamberlain (9–2) Carrillo (13–3) Jensen (14) W 3–1 55–13 (19–8) June 11 Hawks Field 3 Miami Dorn (12–1) Camardese (6–1) Jensen (15) W 6–3 56–13 (19–8) Date Location NU Rank Opponent Winning Pitcher Losing Pitcher Save by Result Record (Big 12) June 17 Rosenblatt Stadium 2 Arizona State Chamberlain (10–2) Zinicola (3–4) Jensen (16) W 5–3 57–13 (19–8) June 19 Rosenblatt Stadium 2 Florida O'Day (8–3) Dorn (12–2) L 4–7 57–14 (19–8) June 21 Rosenblatt Stadium 2 Arizona State Zinicola (4–4) Jensen (3–5) L 7–8 57–15 (19–8)

Season review During the final weekend of the season, the Huskers were two games behind Baylor in the conference race. Nebraska won its first two games against Kansas State, while Baylor and Missouri split their first two contests, putting the Huskers in position to earn a share of the league crown. Behind Kroenke's complete-game gem on Senior Day, Nebraska posted a 3–1 victory, while Missouri capped NU's title hopes by beating Baylor in Waco later that day, giving the two teams a share of the Big 12 crown. The two teams would meet one week later with the Big 12 Tournament title on the line. The game was scoreless until the sixth when Andy Gerch's sacrifice fly plated Gordon for the game's only run. Duensing and Jensen combined on a three-hit shutout to give NU a 1–0 win over the Bears and the Huskers’ fourth Big 12 Tourney crown since 1999 and winning the regular-season and tournament titles in the same season for the second time in school history (2001).

During the College World Series in Omaha, trailing 5–3 in the ninth inning, the Huskers were down to their last at-bat, looking to extend the season. As they had done 20 times during the season, Nebraska began to rally, opening the inning with two hits before Alex Gordon's RBI single pulled NU within 5–4. Two batters later, freshman Andy Gerch sent an 0–2 pitch into the left-field bleachers, giving the Huskers a 7–5 lead. The lead was short-lived, as Arizona State scored twice in the bottom of the ninth – including a game-tying homer by Jeff Larish – before ending two innings later for an 8–7 ASU win.

For head coach Mike Anderson, the heart shown by the Huskers was a characteristic that he saw develop throughout the year. "This was a resilient group all year long," Anderson said. "We fought and fought, and it didn’t surprise me at all that we scored those runs in the ninth." While its resiliency allowed the Huskers to never be out of a contest, Anderson credited the team's selflessness as the catalyst for going from eighth to first in the Big 12 and returning to the College World Series for the first time since 2002.

For Nebraska's eight seniors, 2005 capped a remarkable five-year run in which NU won 237 games, claimed three Big 12 titles and made three College World Series appearances.