Joba Chamberlain turned in a dominant performance in Nebraska’s 12-0 shutout over New Mexico on Friday. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder struck out 15 Lobos and allowed just two hits over seven innings. He allowed two infield singles, as only two balls left the infield in a 96-pitch performance. Chamberlain retired 17 of the first 18 hitters to open the game, including a stretch where he struck out eight straight hitters.
Chamberlain’s 15 strikeouts are NU’s highest single-game total since two-time All-America Shane Komine fanned 16 during the 2000 season and two off Nebraska’s single-game record. Chamberlain, who is 1-0 with a 0.79 ERA in two starts this season, has fanned 19 in 11.1 innings while not walking a batter.
While Chamberlain was honored, the Huskers also made a significant climb in the Collegiate Baseball poll released Monday afternoon. NU moved from No. 27 to No. 18 after opening the season with a 7-0 record, its best start since the 1992 season.
Chamberlain shared the player-of-the-week honor with Villanova’s Nick Allen, who threw a seven-inning no-hitter in a win over Norfolk State, and South Carolina’s Steve Pearce, who hit .615 with three homers, including two grand slams, and 10 RBIs in three games.
The Huskers return to action this weekend, as they travel to Round Rock, Texas, for the Round Rock College Classic. The Huskers will take on seventh-ranked Rice, No. 21 USC and Texas State.