by CURT MCKEEVER Lincoln Journal Star , Lincoln Journal Star

Sunday, the day after its hopes of reaching the Big 12 Conference Tournament had officially been dashed, Nebraska played Missouri with a lineup that consisted of five true freshmen and a sophomore, and a redshirt freshman starting pitcher.

Beginning with tonight's series opener against Cal State Bakersfield, seven games are all that's left of this downer of a season, and it would make sense if the Huskers continue the youth movement as they play things out.

"That's our team next year," freshman pitcher Kash Kalkowski said about the core group coach Mike Anderson put on the field Sunday. "I'm excited, because everybody's young and we're just going in there and playing."

With the intent, according to redshirt freshman pitcher Sean Yost, of finishing on a positive note "and then next year keep it going."

At 21-26-1, Nebraska needs to win its remaining games (three this weekend against CS Bakersfield, Tuesday at Creighton and then next weekend against Baylor) to post its 12th straight winning season.

Though Anderson praised the young Huskers' effort in Sunday's 12-9 loss to Missouri, noting how the group "tried to win the game, not let it come to us," he says all lineup options remain open in the final week.

"For our older kids, for our younger kids, for whatever, we can start putting all kinds of different motives into it. My motive is, on a daily basis, come out and play good baseball, and make it as simple as that," Anderson said.

The freshmen who started Sunday were: left fielder Boomer Collins, third baseman Cody Asche, right fielder Khiry Cooper, second baseman Kale Kiser and catcher Cory Burleson. Sophomore Ben Kline played shortstop, while Yost started on the mound.

In addition to Yost, who has made a start each of the past six weekends, and Kalkowski, the Huskers also threw sophomores Eric Rose and Michael Mariot on Sunday.

"Right now, we're pitching for spots for next year," Yost said. "If you don't perform well, you never know what's going to happen. ... We're tight (as teammates). It's just the learning factor, finding what you need to do to get better."

Kalkowski says he's experienced a one-step-forward, two-steps-back pattern while getting accustomed to playing in one of the nation's top major-college conferences.

But it's not like he's been unable to enjoy parts of the ride.

"It's little things you have to work on. Coach (Eric) Newman) has been working with me on not having my arm long," Kalkowski said. "In high school, I wish I knew to shorten my arm like I have, but now I have better command with my pitches and I can work off that."

Most of the other Huskers are in the midst of developmental tasks, too, which is one reason why Collins thinks something good can come from the season's final week.

"We're not giving up. We're going to play until they take our jersey away," he said. "We're not going to hang up the cleats just because we're not going to the Big 12 Tournament."

BRIEFLY

Senior infielder Jeff Tezak has been named first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII. He is now eligible for Academic All-America honors.

Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com

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