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Nebraska junior right fielder Austin Darby, one of the leading hitters last year, is suspended from the first Husker game this year because he was ejected from the final game last year in the Big Ten Tournament.

Husker coach Darin Erstad said Tuesday that Darby faces the one-game suspension because of a new conference rule. He said Christian Cox, a junior college transfer by way of Omaha Roncalli, likely will start in right field in the 1 p.m. opener Friday against Pacific in Tempe, Ariz.

Erstad said staff ace Kyle Kubat will miss the first weekend. Kubat missed the first month of last season with injuries and is struggling with the same arm problems. Erstad said the starting rotation for the weekend will be Christian DeLeon on Friday, Aaron Bummer in Saturday’s noon game against Oregon State in Tempe and junior college transfer Chance Sinclair for Saturday’s 4 p.m. game against Gonzaga. The starter for Sunday’s 1 p.m. game with Gonzaga has not been determined.

Because Darby is out for the opener, freshman Ryan Boldt likely will lead off the NU batting order. “We told him he’d be at the bottom of the order and now he’s going to be at the top,” Erstad said of Boldt, who was once listed as a top-round MLB Draft pick.