NU Opens Home Schedule Against Northern Colorado

After playing its first 12 games away from Lincoln, the Nebraska softball team opens the home portion of its schedule this weekend when the Huskers host Northern Colorado for a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday at Bowlin Stadium.

First pitch for Saturday’s doubleheader is set for 1 p.m., while Sunday’s action begins at Noon. Only one ticket is needed each day and tickets ($7 reserved, $5 general admission, $3 youth/seniors) can be purchased online at Huskers.com, over the phone by calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED or on the day of the game at the ticket window located at the main entrance to Bowlin Stadium.

Fans unable to make it out to the home-opening series with Northern Colorado can follow all of the action live on Huskers.com, which will offer free, live audio of all four contests.

This weekend’s games are believed to mark the earliest scheduled home games in the 33-year history of the program. Overall, the contests are believed to be the second-earliest home dates in school history, as Nebraska took advantage of unusually warm weather to schedule an impromptu doubleheader with Missouri Western on March 1, 2006 to mark the earliest home games ever played in the recorded history of Nebraska softball.

The Huskers have posted one of the top home records in the nation over the last two seasons, while playing in front of some of the largest crowds in the country. NU finished 18-5 at Bowlin Stadium in 2007 after tying the school-record for home victories in a season by finishing 20-1 in 2006. Over the past two seasons, Nebraska has compiled a 38-6 home record against a tough schedule, including a 15-2 mark in Big 12 play and a 6-1 record against ranked opponents.

A big reason for that success has been the support of the hometown fans. Nebraska drew more than 10,000 fans to Bowlin Stadium in 2007 for the sixth straight season while ranking in the top 10 nationally in attendance for the fifth consecutive year.

In addition to an early chance to play in front of the home fans, the Huskers are especially thrilled to avoid all air travel this weekend after fighting through three canceled flights and a pair of unexpected overnight stays in Minneapolis and Atlanta the past two weeks.

The Huskers arrived back in Lincoln a day late this week following a successful 3-2 showing at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. Although NU hoped for more consistent play, Nebraska had a solid showing while facing three top-25 teams in the event.

On Friday, the Huskers easily put together their best performance of the season, setting offensive highs across the board in an 11-1 rout of Tennessee Tech, before putting another complete game together in handing previously undefeated and then-No. 16 Louisiana-Lafayette its first loss of the season, 3-1.

Junior right-hander Molly Hill returned to the circle last weekend, finishing 1-2. Hill, who is still less than 100 percent following knee surgery in early February, looks to continue to regain her strength this weekend.

With Hill’s return helping solidify Nebraska’s pitching staff, the Husker offense came alive last week, scoring 25 runs in five games after totaling just 18 runs through the first seven contests.

Scouting the Northern Colorado Bears (6-16)
Northern Colorado has already played 22 games entering this weekend, as the Bears have compiled a 6-16 record. After winning its season opener, UNC lost 13 of its next 14 games. The Bears rebounded last weekend, winning three of their final four games at the UTEP Invitational in El Paso, Texas.

Under second year head coach Jen Schunke, the Bears are giving up an average of almost seven runs per game, while scoring a little more than three. Northern Colorado has shown power at the plate, belting 11 home runs, but the team is hitting just .237.

Offensively, Hillarie Van Otterloo and Jessie Schoepflin are the leading hitters. Van Otterloo leads the team in average (.352), home runs (3), slugging percentage (.593) and on-base percentage (.455). Schoepflin ranks second with a .347 average but has used her speed to lead the team with 26 hits, 12 runs scored and five stolen bases.

In the circle, every Bear pitcher has an ERA above 5.00. Van Otterloo is also Northern Colorado’s top pitcher, as she boasts a 5.02 ERA and a 2-4 record in 37.2 innings. Kelli Henderson has thrown a team-high 55.1 innings, posting a 1-5 record with a 9.76 ERA, as opponents are hitting .328 against her. Jamie Juelfs leads the team in wins, but is just 3-6 on the season with a 7.25 ERA in 36.0 innings of work. Courtney Maihi (0-1, 12.54 ERA in 9.1 innings) rounds out the UNC staff.

A Look at the Series History
Nebraska leads the all-time series with Northern Colorado, 8-0. In the eight all-time meetings, Nebraska has outscored UNC 45-9, winning by an average of more than four runs per game. The Huskers and Bears have played four doubleheaders in four different seasons to account for all eight meetings. The first doubleheader came in 1982 and the series was not renewed again until 2004, which marked the first of three straight seasons the teams met. Nebraska and Northern Colorado did not play last season.

The Huskers and the Home Opener
On Saturday, Nebraska will officially open its seventh season at Bowlin Stadium with a doubleheader against Northern Colorado. Nebraska is 5-1 all-time in home openers at Bowlin Stadium and the Huskers are 84-31 all-time in the stadium. NU has been especially tough to beat at home the past two seasons, compiling a 38-6 record while winning its first 11 home games in 2006 and its first five games last season.

Quick Hitters
The information below provides a quick glimpse of a few statistics and brief notes of interest to keep in mind as Nebraska opens its home schedule this weekend with four games against Northern Colorado:

• Nebraska has proven to be a clutch hitting team so far this season, as 21 of Nebraska’s 38 RBIs have come with two outs. The Huskers are hitting .253 with the bases empty, .266 with runners on base, .302 with runners in scoring position and .333 with the bases loaded.
• The Huskers have scored in the first inning of each of their four victories this season. Scoring in the first inning has proven to be precursor to success for Nebraska, as they are not only 4-0 this season when doing so, but 81-12 over the last five years.
• The Huskers have been successful on 16-of-18 stolen base attempts this season, with one of the caught stealings coming as the result of a runner trying to advance on a potential wild pitch.
• Nebraska has yet to play a one-run game through the first 12 games of the season. Each of the Huskers’ first three games last season - and nine of the first 12 - were decided by a single run. The current streak marks Nebraska’s longest season-opening streak without playing a single one-run game. The previous long was 10 games in 1995.
• Not only has NU not played a one-run game yet this season, the Huskers have played seven games decided by four runs or more. Last season, only 11 of Nebraska’s 57 games were decided by four or more runs.
• Nebraska is 261-4 since 2000 when leading after six innings of play. The Huskers had won 106 consecutive games when taking a lead into the seventh inning before losing a 9-6 lead at No. 4 Oklahoma last April.
• Nebraska boasts an all-time record of 367-220 (.625) in the month of March, including a 1-2 mark this year, with both losses coming to ranked teams.
• Crystal Carwile is Nebraska’s active leader in career doubles (25), triples (1), home runs (18) and RBIs (78). In fact, her career total is higher than the combined total of all other Huskers in every category except RBIs.

Long Earns Spot on NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament Team
Junior Haley Long was one of 12 players named to the NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament team for her performance last weekend. Long started all five games and hit .385 (5-for-13) with four RBIs and a stolen base. In the tournament which featured seven ranked teams, Long was one of only three players on the all-tournament team who was not a member of a ranked squad.

Searching for a Shutout
Nebraska has yet to post a shutout through the first 12 games of the season, its longest drought to open a season since 1993. Overall, NU has gone 23 games since its last shutout, the longest drought since the 1997 Huskers went 33 contests between shutouts.

In contrast, Nebraska threw three shutouts in its opening weekend last season en route to finishing the season with 12, marking the 10th consecutive season NU had posted at least 10 shutouts.

Getting Healthier
For the first time all season, Nebraska had its full roster available last weekend, although several players are still less than 100 percent. Junior right-hander Molly Hill, the ace of the Husker staff, returned to start three games last weekend, just four weeks removed from knee surgery. Hill continues to rebuild her strength, as she was only able to complete one of her three starts.

Sophomore Whitney Barrett is also nearing a return to full health. Barrett, who missed the opening weekend and was limited the next weekend, returned to start all five games at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, although she was not cleared to be in the batting lineup for all five games. As Barrett continues to return to full strength, she will figure more prominently into the batting order, while she is also expected to move to her natural position at short. Because of the injury, Barrett has made all of her six starts at third base.

Offensive Weekend
Nebraska’s young offense showed its greatest promise yet last weekend at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Competing against a tough field that included three ranked teams among the Huskers’ five opponents, Nebraska hit .318 for the weekend while scoring 25 runs. NU improved its average by .102 points, as Nebraska entered the weekend hitting just .216 as a team while scoring only 18 runs in its first seven contests.

Freshmen paved the way for the Huskers’ hot weekend, as Heidi Foland (.500), Kelli Linke (.400) and Julie Brechtel (.364) posted three of Nebraska’s top four averages at the tournament. Foland and Linke each posted their first career RBI last weekend, while Brechtel added two RBIs to go along with a team-high .563 on-base percentage that included three walks and two hit-by-pitches.

Among the returners, juniors Meghan Mullin and Darcy Rutherford each hit .353, but it was Haley Long and Crystal Carwile who made the biggest impact. Long hit .385 with four RBIs to earn a spot on the all-tournament team, while Carwile hit .294 with a double, two home runs and five RBIs.

Scoring Explosion
Nebraska scored 25 runs in its first four games at the NFCA Leadoff Classic last weekend, after scoring only 18 through its first seven games. The Huskers began the tournament with an 11-1 five-inning victory over Tennessee Tech, producing season highs for runs (11) and hits (13). The 11 runs and 13 hits also topped Nebraska’s best effort from 2007, as Nebraska has displayed a more potent lineup this season, despite less experience. Through the first 12 games this season, Nebraska has scored 43 runs after managing just 31 runs through the first 12 games last season.

Carwile Matches 2007 Home Run Total
Junior Crystal Carwile has hit three home runs through the season’s first 12 games, matching her entire 57-game total from 2007. Carwile has led Nebraska in home runs every season, finishing with 12 as a freshman and three as a sophomore. Carwile’s power numbers dipped last season partially as a result of a continued recovery from offseason shoulder surgery. Last year, Carwile did not hit her first home run until the 22nd game of the year.

Freshmen Middle Infielders Post Solid Weekend
Nebraska’s freshmen middle infield combination of shortstop Heidi Foland and second baseman Julie Brechtel enjoyed a terrific offensive weekend at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Foland hit .500 (5-for-10) while recording the first RBI and second stolen base of her career. Brechtel, meanwhile, hit .364 (4-for-11) while scoring three runs, adding two RBIs, walking three times and being hit by two pitches to post a .563 on-base percentage.

Entering the tournament, Foland was just 2-for-10 in her career, while Brechtel was only 1-for-18 with three RBIs and a .227 on-base percentage.

Freshmen Showing Great Plate Discipline
Nebraska’s freshman class has been anything but anxious this season, showing great discipline at the plate. Julie Brechtel and Ashley Guile are tied for the team lead with seven walks, while the seven freshmen have combined to draw 17 walks this season. NU’s eight non-freshmen hitters have only walked a combined 15 times. The freshmen have also accounted for four of the Huskers’ seven hit-by-pitches this season. All told, Nebraska’s freshmen boast a collective .374 on-base percentage, compared to a .329 mark from NU’s other hitters.

Revelle Records 600th Career Win, Nears 600 at Nebraska
Head Coach Rhonda Revelle earned her 600th career coaching victory when Nebraska run-ruled Tennessee Tech, 11-1, in five innings on Feb. 29. Revelle, who boasts a career record of 602-319, including a 594-303 mark at Nebraska, became the 33rd active Division I coach - and 48th all-time - to reach the milestone. The winningest female coach in Husker history, Revelle ranks third all-time among all coaches in NU history with her 594 wins at Nebraska.