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OMAHA, Neb. >> Nebraska pitcher Shane Komine plans to spend his final Cornhusker home stand relaxing and getting ready for the postseason. Komine’s return
boosts HuskersAssociated Press
After a five-week hiatus caused by an elbow injury, the Husker ace -- a Kalani High School alumnus -- is healthy once again and gives Nebraska a jolt of optimism as it tries for a second straight run to the College World Series.
"If he can get going like he did in midseason and early in the season, we're going to be a tough team to beat," centerfielder Jeff Leise said.
After pitching Wednesday against Creighton, Komine is sitting out this weekend's three-game series against Louisiana Tech.
In eight innings pitched since missing five weeks with tendinitis in his throwing elbow, Komine has allowed just three hits, no runs and walked four while striking out nine.
In his first start since April 5, Komine struck out seven and allowed just two hits over five innings in Nebraska's 9-1 victory over Creighton on Wednesday.
"It's real encouraging. I wanted to come out here and get us at least into the fifth or sixth inning and that's what I did," Komine said. "There are some signs of rust after not throwing for five weeks. Four walks in the game, I kind of wanted to bring that down a little bit, but I was happy with how everything turned out tonight."
Komine (6-0) also pitched three innings of relief two Saturdays ago against Cal Poly in his first outing since his elbow became too sore to pitch.
He has dropped his ERA from a pre-injury 2.10 to 1.84 and is still tied for second in the Big 12 with 80 strikeouts despite missing four league starts.
Komine's statistics for the regular season are pretty much done.
"I get to sit back and enjoy everything," said Komine, who holds school records for wins (37), strikeouts (474) and several other categories.
"This place has been good to me and I've enjoyed every moment of it. I'm just going to go out there and just thank the fans and everybody for their support."
With the Big 12 tournament this week in Arlington, Texas, and the NCAA opening round May 31-June 1, coach Dave Van Horn is giving Komine another weekend of rest.
Van Horn said Komine was obviously rusty after the layoff, but responded well after the Bluejays got two runners on in both the first and third innings.
Komine got out of both situations unscathed and appeared stronger in his final two innings.
"I thought the fourth and fifth were by far his best innings," Van Horn said. "I don't think he attacked as much until the fourth or the fifth and what I mean by that is really go at people. I thought he was just trying to finesse people a little bit too much."