The 2012 Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team was the first season of the program's new head coach Darin Erstad and featured a new coaching staff and a roster that included 12 new players. The Huskers entered their first season of Big Ten baseball after 15 seasons in the Big 12 Conference that included three regular-season titles and four tournament crowns.

2011 In their last season in the Big 12 Conference, the Huskers went 30–25 overall and had a ninth-place 9–17 record in conference play, missing out in the Big 12 tournament for the third consecutive season. Cody Asche became a second-team all-American and a first-team all-conference player while Casey Hauptman won second-team all conference honors. They were both drafted in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. At the conclusion of the season, Mike Anderson and the entire coaching staff were terminated on May 22, 2011, and the University of Nebraska hired former Husker and Major League All-Star Darin Erstad on June 2, 2011, as head coach after one season as a volunteer assistant coach. A few days later, Ted Silva was hired as well as former Cornhuskers Will Bolt and Jeff Christy.

Preview

Key losses Cody Asche – Drafted in the fourth round by Philadelphia Phillies in 2011 MLB Draft Khiry cooper – Would be senior out with a foot injury Logan ehlers – Quit team in fall 2011 and transferred to Howard Junior College in Big Spring, Texas Matt freeman – Senior in 2011 Casey hauptman – Senior in 2011, drafted in 26th round by N.Y. Mets Patric tolentino – Senior in 2011 Sean yost – Would-be senior with injury

Preseason picks The Big Ten coaches picked Nebraska to finish fourth out of the league's 11 teams in 2012. Three Husker juniors were also named to the ‘Players to Watch List’, including right-handed pitcher Travis Huber, right-handed pitcher Tom Lemke and first baseman-designated hitter Kash Kalkowski.

Schedule summary The Huskers played 31 home games at Hawks Field and had 13 contests against 2011 NCAA Tournament teams, including a four-game home stand against 2011 College World Series qualifier California. The 56-game schedule started with 10 games on the road before the Huskers hosted their home opener against former Big 12 foe Kansas State on Tuesday, March 6. The Huskers played eight Big Ten Conference series, with three conference schools not on the schedule, including Penn State and Michigan State, as well as Wisconsin, which doesn't have a baseball program.

Coaching staff A 14-year MLB veteran and World Series champion, Erstad took over at his alma mater, where he was one of the most successful players in program history. Prior to becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 1995 amateur draft, Erstad was a first-team All-American and the Big Eight Co-Player of the Year as a junior in 1995.

"It is a great honor to be the head coach of the Nebraska baseball program", Erstad said. "My family and I believe strongly in what the University stands for, and I am excited to have this opportunity to help influence kids’ lives in a positive way and help them turn into young men. I am committed to helping them grow as people."

2012 Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball coaching staffHead coach Darin ErstadAssociate Head coach Will BoltAssistant coach Ted SilvaVolunteer Assistant coach Jeff ChristyDirector of Operations Curtis LedbetterGraduate Assistant Brad Smith

Erstad is not the only former Husker on his coaching staff, as he brought on Will Bolt as his associate head coach and Jeff Christy as the team's volunteer assistant. A four-year starter and team captain on Nebraska's 2001 and 2002 College World Series teams, Bolt was a volunteer assistant on the Huskers’ 2005 squad that set a school record with 57 wins and produced the program's first win at the College World Series. Christy was a junior on the 2005 team and caught a school-record 64 games that season.

"It is an incredible opportunity to come back to a place where I had so many fond memories as a player and coach", Bolt said. "I am humbled and excited to work at my alma mater, and looking forward to making an impact in a coaching role and helping this program reach its goals. It is an honor to be included on a staff put together by a Husker legend and long-time big leaguer in Coach Erstad."

For his pitching coach, Erstad plucked Ted Silva away from California where he had coached at UC Irvine and Loyola Marymount over the previous four seasons. As a player, Silva was a first-team All-American at Cal State Fullerton and earned the win in the Titans’ 1995 national championship game against USC in the College World Series.

Schedule

| Feb. 17 || Peoria, Arizona || NR || || Peterson, D. (1–0) || Vogt, D. (0–1) || Abbruzza, Z. (1) || 4–7 || 0–1 |- | Feb. 18 || Peoria, Arizona || NR || Gonzaga || Bigelow, D. (1–0) || Niederklein (0–1) || Abbruzza, Z. (2) || 8–10 || 0–2 |- | Feb. 19 || Peoria, Arizona || NR || Gonzaga || Pterson, D. (2–0) || Pierce, B. (0–1) || || 4–5 || 0–3 |- | Feb. 24 || Corpus Christi, Texas || NR || || Hirsch, Z. (1–0) || Adams, Zach (0–2) || Huber, T. (1) || 5–2 || 1–3 |- | Feb. 25 || Corpus Christi, Texas || NR || Utah || Keller, J. (1–0) || Mordini (0–2) || || 15–0 || 2–3 |- | Feb. 25 || Corpus Christi, Texas || NR || || Niederklein (1–1) || Keller, T. (0–1) || || 7–1 || 3–3 |- | Feb. 26 || Corpus Christi, Texas || NR || || Pierce, B. (1–1) || Shannon, M. (0–1) || Huber, T. (2) || 8–7 || 4–3 |- | March 2 || Minneapolis, Minnesota || NR || || Walter, C. (1–1) || Hirsch, Z. (1–1) || Dierdorff, D (1) || 1–4 || 4–4 |- | March 3 || Minneapolis, Minnesota || NR || || Pierce, B. (2–1) || Coffman, S. (0–1) || || 6–4 || 5–4 |- | March 4 || Minneapolis, Minnesota || NR || || Lemke, T. (1–0) || Lubinsky (0–2) || || 10–3 || 6–4 |- | March 6 || Hawks Field || RV || || Vogt, D. (1–1) || Conlon, S. (1–1) || Huber, T. (3) || 9–6 || 7–4 |- | March 7 || Hawks Field || RV || || Hander, R. (1–0) || Ridenour (1–3) || Bublitz, L. (1) || 4–1 || 8–4 |- | March 9 || Hawks Field || RV || #21 California || Scott (3–0) || Huber, T. (0–1) || || 8–11 (11 inn.) || 8–5 |- | March 10 || Hawks Field || RV || #21 California || Keller, J. (2–0) || Flemer (2–1) || || 12–5 || 9–5 |- | March 11 || Hawks Field || RV || #21 California || Porter (2–0) || Lemke, T. (1–1) || || 0–4 || 9–6 |- | March 12 || Hawks Field || NR || #18 California || Niederklein (2–1) || Theofanopoul (0–2) || || 9–5 || 10–6 |- | March 13 || Hawks Field || NR || || Bummer, A. (1–0) || Fiedelman (0–1) || || 12–3 || 11–6 |- | March 15 || Hawks Field || NR || || Hirsch, Z. (2–1) || Maton (3–1) || Pierce, B. (1) || 9–2 || 12–6 |- | March 16 || Hawks Field || NR || Louisiana Tech || Keller, J. (3–0) || Petersen (1–2) || || 22–3 || 13–6 |- | March 17 || Hawks Field || NR || Louisiana Tech || Lemke, T. (2–1) || Gilley (1–2) || || 11–4 || 14–6 |- | March 18 || Hawks Field || NR || Louisiana Tech || Dudley (2–0) || Bublitz, L. (0–1) || Stefan (1) || 5–6 || 14–7 |- | March 20 || Hawks Field || NR || || Kubat, K. (1–0) || Willman, J. (1–3) || || 12–3 || 15–7 |- | March 21 || Hawks Field || NR || Northern Colorado || Hammer, C. (1–0) || Huber, T. (0–2) || || 7–11 || 15–8 |- | March 23 || Hawks Field || NR || || Johnson, K. (4–1) || Lemke, T. (2–2) || || 3–11 || 15–9 (0–1) |- | March 24 || Hawks Field || NR || Illinois || Kubat, K. (2–0) || Kravetz, J. (3–1) || || 18–5 || 16–9 (1–1) |- | March 25 || Hawks Field || NR || Illinois || Hirsch, Z. (3–1) || Ferry, J. (1–1) || || 13–3 || 17–9 (2–1) |- | March 27 || Hawks Field || || Kansas State || Pierce, B. (3–1) || Wivinis, M. (1–1) || Huber, T. (4) || 6–3 || 18–9 (2–1) |- | March 30 || Evanston, Illinois || || || Lemke, T. (3–2) || Brooke, F. (1–2) || Huber, T. (5) || 7–4 || 19–9 (3–1) |- | March 31 || Evanston, Illinois || || Northwestern || Magallones (5–0) || Keller, J. (3–1) || || 4–8 || 19–10 (3–2) |- | April 1 || Evanston, Illinois || || Northwestern || Morton (1–5) || Hirsch, Z. (3–2) || || 1–6 || 19–11 (3–3) |- | April 3 || Manhattan, Kansas || || Kansas State || King, T. (1–0) || Moore, J (2–2) || || 6–0 || 20–11 (3–3) |- | April 6 || Hawks Field || || || Hippen (3–3) || Lemke, T. (3–3) || Brown (5) || 3–4 || 20–12 (3–4) |- | April 7 || Hawks Field || || Iowa || Pierce, B. (4–1) || Dermody (1–4) || Niederklein (1) || 9–4 || 21–12 (4–4) |- | April 8 || Hawks Field || || Iowa || Huber, T. (1–2) || Brown (1–1) || || 9–8 || 22–12 (5–4) |- | April 10 || Hawks Field || || || Keller, J. (4–1) || Musec (3–2) || || 5–3 || 23–12 (5–4) |- | April 13 || Columbus, Ohio || || || Long (3–1) || King, T. (1–1) || || 2–10 || 23–13 (5–5) |- | April 14 || Columbus, Ohio || || Ohio State || Vogt, D. (2–1) || McKinney (4–4) || Huber, T. (6) || 5–4 || 24–13 (6–5) |- | April 15 || Columbus, Ohio || || Ohio State || Hirsch, Z. (4–2) || Kuchno (5–2) || || 17–9 || 25–13 (7–5) |- | April 20 || Hawks Field || || Purdue || Mascarello (7–1) || Niederklein (2–2) || || 5–8 || 25–14 (7–6) |- | April 21 ||Hawks Field || || Purdue || Pierce, B. (5–1) || Breedlove (6–3) || || 8–3 || 26–14 (8–6) |- | April 22 || Hawks Field || || Purdue || Podkul (2–0) || Hirsch, Z. (4–3) || Wittgren (8) || 3–8 || 26–15 (8–7) |- | April 24 || TD Ameritrade Park || || Creighton || Hander, R. (2–0) || Musec (3–3) || Huber, T. (7) || 4–1 || 27–15 (8–7) |- | April 27 || Hawks Field || || || Bublitz, L. (1–1) || Carter (1–2) || || 3–2 (11 inn.) || 28–15 (8–7) |- | April 28 || Hawks Field || || Cal State Bakersfield || McKenzie (4–4) || Pierce, B. (5–2) || || 2–10 || 28–16 (8–7) |- | April 29 || Hawks Field || || Cal State Bakersfield || colspan=5|Cancelled (Rain) |- | May 5 || Bloomington, Indiana || || || Kubat, K. (3–0) || DeNato (7–2) || || 13–2 || 29–16 (9–7) |- | May 6 || Bloomington, Indiana || || Indiana || Hart (4–4) || Pierce, B. (5–3) || Hoffman (4) || 5–7 || 29–17 (9–8) |- | May 7 || Bloomington, Indiana || || Indiana || Martin (1–3) || Hirsch, Z. (4–4) || Hoffman (5) || 6–9 || 29–18 (9–9) |- | May 8 || TD Ameritrade Park || || Creighton || Blach (4–5) || Lemke, T. (3–4) || || 1–8 || 29–19 (9–9) |- | May 11 || Hawks Field || || Minnesota || Kubat, K. (4–0) || Oakes (7–3) || Vogt, D. (1) || 4–3 || 30–19 (10–9) |- | May 12 || Hawks Field || || Minnesota || King, T. (2–1) || Snelten (4–4) || Pierce, B. (2) || 8–7 || 31–19 (11–9) |- | May 13 || Hawks Field || || Minnesota || Bublitz, L. (2–1) || Lubinsky (3–4) || Vogt, D. (2) || 6–5 || 32–19 (12–9) |- | May 15 || Hawks Field || || || Mateychick (4–1) || Hirsch, Z. (4–5) || || 2–13 || 32–20 (12–9) |- | May 17 || Ann Arbor, Michigan || || || Kubat, K. (5–0) || Ogden (3–4) || || 15–2 || 33–20 (13–9) |- | May 18 || Ann Arbor, Michigan || || Michigan || Sinnery (5–5) || Pierce, B. (5–4) || || 5–6 || 33–21 (13–10) |- | May 19 || Ann Arbor, Michigan || || Michigan || Lemke, T. (4–4) || Brosnahan (3–4) || || 7–3 || 34–21 (14–10)

! style=";" | Postseason

| May 23 || Columbus, Ohio || || Michigan State || Bucciferro (6–3) || Kubat, K. (5–1) || Wieber, T (9) || 9–10 || 34–22 (14–10) |- | May 24 || Columbus, Ohio || || Penn State || Hander, R. (3–0) || Hill (5–4) || || 12–3 || 35–22 (14–10) |- | May 25 || Columbus, Ohio || || Ohio State || King (5–5) || Spitsnogle (0–1) || || 2–6 || 36–23 (14–10)

Season summary