Honors & Awards

• 2003 Nebraska Lifter of the Year
• Second-team Summer All-American (Baseball America)
• Top Prospect in the Northwoods League (Baseball America)
• 2002 Northwoods League All-Star
• 2002 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year (Coaches, Dallas Morning News)
• 2002 First-Team All-Big 12 (Coaches, Dallas Morning News)
• Collegiate Baseball National Pitcher of the Week (3/21/02)
• Two-Time Big 12 Pitcher of the Week (3/18/02 & 4/29/02)
• Big 12 Commissioner?s Honor Roll (Fall 2001; Spring 2002)

Diamond Notes

• Will contend for Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, carrying a 3.95 cumulative GPA in finance
• Made the most of his only plate appearances, as he went 1-for-3 with a two-run double in a win over fifth-ranked Texas on May 5, 2002
• Allowed three runs or less in 19 of his 20 appearances
• Was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 34th round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft

2003 Outlook
Not even Pitching Coach Rob Childress could have imagined the impact that Aaron Marsden made in his first Husker campaign. Originally pegged for bullpen duty, the 6-foot-6 left-hander needed only one start to make a lasting impression, throwing a complete-game one-hitter to earn national player-of-the-week honors against Texas A&M on March 17. That effort began a magical ride for the southpaw, who compiled an 8-1 record and a 2.70 ERA.

When two-time All-American Shane Komine missed over a month with elbow surgery, Marsden stepped in without the Huskers missing a beat, going a perfect 5-0 with a 1.53 ERA in six series-opening starts. Childress believes Marsden?s success down the stretch was a major reason for the Huskers? late-season surge.

"Aaron made the most of his opportunities last spring," Childress said. "It says a lot about Aaron?s makeup that he was able to step into the No. 1 spot in our rotation and perform as well as he did when Shane was out. He won some big games for us last season."

Over the summer Marsden was dominant in the Northwoods League, compiling an 8-2 record and a league-low 1.60 ERA in 77 innings. He ranked second in the league in wins, while his ERA was the fourth-lowest in league history. A first-team All-league selection, opponents hit just .164 against him. For his efforts, he was chosen to Baseball America?s All-Summer team and was tabbed the league?s top prospect.

He shined during the fall, going 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in two starts during the Red-White Series. He struck out four and walked one hitter in 11 innings to help the Red squad to the series win. Marsden enters the spring as the Huskers? ace, a role that Childress believes the junior is ready to take on in 2003.

"Aaron proved to us last year that he has the makeup to be a consistent No.1 starter for us, and that is a luxury to have," Childress said. "We are confident that Aaron can give us a chance to win every time he takes the mound."

2002 - Sophomore
Marsden enjoyed a superb 2002 campaign, posting an 8-1 record with a 2.70 ERA in 100 innings. A first-team All-Big 12 selection and conference newcomer of the year, he tied Jamie Rodrigue for the league lead in shutouts with two, and also was in the top five in opposing batting average (.219, second), ERA (2.70, third), complete games (three, second) and wins (8, fifth). He also became only the sixth Husker to pitch 100 innings in a year.

After pitching the first month in relief, Marsden moved into the rotation in mid-March. In his first start against No. 13 Texas A&M, he finished the weekend sweep of the Aggies with a one-hitter, striking out nine Aggies in a 10-0 win.

That performance earned him a spot he would not relinquish during the year. After a no-decision and a loss in his next two starts, he reeled off wins in seven of his next eight starts, including a complete-game three-hitter against Oklahoma on April 7, and a complete-game three-hit shutout against Kansas on April 26, earning Big 12 Pitcher-of-the-Week honors. He earned victories at No. 13 Oklahoma State on April 19, allowing two runs in eight innings, and closed Big 12 play with a win at fifth-ranked Texas on May 3. Against the Longhorns, Marsden allowed two runs in 8.1 innings, but belted the game?s biggest hit with a two-run double ? his first career hit.

The southpaw was magnificent in the Big 12, going 6-1 with a 1.52 ERA in nine appearances. Marsden paced all league starters in ERA, complete games (three) and shutouts (two), while ranking second in wins (six), innings pitched (65) and strikeouts (50).

He went 1-0 at the Big 12 Tournament, earning the win against Baylor despite allowing a season-high six runs, before firing 4.1 innings of relief in a no-decision versus Texas in the title game. Marsden struggled during the NCAA Tournament, allowing 10 earned runs in four appearances, including a pair of starts, as he went 0-0 with an 8.68 ERA. He made two starts, lasting a season-low 2.1 innings against UW-Milwaukee and just 3.1 innings against Richmond.

Before Nebraska
Marsden spent one year playing for Andy Sawyers at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. He finished with a 6-3 mark and a 5.90 ERA in 64.1 innings. A 34th-round selection by the Cleveland Indians in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Marsden turned in a sterling senior campaign for Coach Aaron Dunphy at Red River High School in Grand Forks, N.D., going 8-0 with a 1.45 ERA, as he was named the USA Today State Player of the Year and the Gatorade Circle of Champions Player of the Year. In American Legion ball, he went 10-2 with 74 strikeouts in 68.2 innings. Marsden also played four seasons of football and basketball.