Softball Season Preview

A casual observer of Nebraska softball might look at the 2010 season as a rebuilding year for the Huskers. It's easy to see why, as Nebraska is faced with the daunting challenge of replacing the largest senior class in program history, one that combined for more than 1,000 starts and 10 All-Big 12 awards over the last four seasons.

Replacing a senior class that included seven starters and four All-Big 12 selections from last year's NCAA Tournament team may be reason to temper expectations for 2010. But not at Nebraska, a tradition-rich program determined to return to its status among the sport's elite.

"I think it's an exciting thing," Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said of replacing the departed senior class. "The junior class got a taste of the postseason last year and now they really believe they can take this team farther. The sophomores see opportunities to make an impact this year after kind of realizing they had to wait their turn last year with so many seniors. And the freshmen always come in anxious to compete.

"We have more competition overall this season and that will benefit us."

What will also benefit the Huskers is the return of injured players.

"We had a good group of talent that was unable to play last season due to injuries," Revelle said. "They have a lot of experience and there was a lot of talent sitting in the dugout last year."

The return of that talent should boost a roster that includes a nice mix of returning veterans and talented underclassmen. But even with the return of the injured players, is it realistic for Nebraska to expect similar - or even better - results than last season?

Revelle certainly believes so and she has a message for those who believe this preseason optimism may be nothing more than coach-speak.

"Pitching can do tremendous things in this game and you need to look at our staff first," Revelle said. "I really feel like if we're healthy, we'll have as good of a pitching staff as any team in the conference."

That's a bold statement, considering Nebraska finished second in the Big 12 in ERA last season behind first-team All-Big 12 hurler Molly Hill, who threw more than 71 percent of the staff's total innings, including more than 91 percent during conference play. With Hill lost to graduation, Nebraska will be counting on a healthy return from junior right-hander Robin Mackin and more consistency from sophomore right-hander Ashley Hagemann.

Mackin established herself as one of the premiere pitchers in the game during her two-year career at Fresno State, which culminated with third-team All-America honors in 2007. But Mackin has yet to start a Division I game since that season.

After taking the 2008 season off in preparations for her Olympic debut with Team Canada, Mackin underwent shoulder surgery last March in her first season at Nebraska and has worked her way back. If healthy, Mackin will give the Huskers a poised and talented veteran in the circle, as she is one of only two Division I pitchers with Olympic experience and one of only 13 returning All-America pitchers.

"Robin has gotten herself into excellent pitching shape and we think she's healthy and ready to go," Revelle said. "She threw well and did a lot of great things in the fall, even though she still wasn't completely healthy. She has a great poise in the circle and brings a tremendous presence to our whole team when she's got the ball."

While Mackin's ability to return to her All-America form is a key this season, so is the continued development of Hagemann, who showed flashes of dominance as a freshman. Hagemann ranked second in the conference in strikeouts per seven innings (9.61) and second in opponent batting average (.189) last year.

"We've seen a lot of improvement out of Ashley," Revelle said. "You can see it starting to click for her. She has a deeper understanding of what it takes to be a successful pitcher at this level. She had some good moments and did some things well last year, and she's built off that to work on becoming more consistent."

Revelle sees the potential for a breakout season from Hagemann, citing the tradition of dramatic improvement by Husker pitchers from their freshman to sophomore seasons. Over the last decade, Nebraska pitchers have lowered their ERA by an average of 0.99 from their freshman to sophomore seasons. Revelle believes Hagemann has the ability to follow in the footsteps of former Husker Ashley DeBuhr, who went from a 3.82 ERA as a freshman to a 1.84 ERA during an All-Big 12 sophomore campaign.

With Mackin and Hagemann, the Huskers have the potential for a dominant duo in the circle, one Revelle believes can produce similar results to those of DeBuhr and Hill in 2007. That season, Nebraska ranked ninth nationally with a team ERA of 1.41 and the Huskers hosted an NCAA Regional despite an offense that scored the fewest runs of any Nebraska team in the last 16 years.

The 2010 Huskers expect far more production out of this year's lineup, especially as the hitters are more familiar with the system of second-year hitting coach Diane Miller.

"I see a little shift in our offensive philosophy," Revelle said. "We have more expectations of being able to drive the ball. We're not as fast and speedy, but we're hitting the ball farther and harder.

"It helps that we're in the second year with Coach Miller. The players have really bought into her system and you can see they're more comfortable with it."

Although the offense must replace seven of the top eight batting averages from last season, the Huskers return their top two power hitters. Like the pitching staff, the lineup will also be bolstered by the return of several key players.

Mackin put up solid offensive numbers in her two seasons at Fresno State, batting .279 with 13 doubles, eight home runs and 60 RBIs. Hagemann, who holds the Nebraska high school record for RBIs in a season, is also expected to contribute offensively after focusing on pitching last season, when she earned only 14 at bats and hit .286.

Sophomore Ashley Guile also returns from an elbow injury that kept her out of action last season. Guile posted the Huskers' third-best on-base percentage and fourth-highest RBI total as a freshman in 2008. Junior Crystal Gonzalez is also back after missing all but four games over the last two seasons. Gonzalez's return gives the Huskers a speedy slap-hitting option as well as terrific defense in center field.

While the return of the injured players brings potential to the Husker lineup, Nebraska's top returning hitter from last season is junior Julie Brechtel. In a breakout 2009 campaign, Brechtel batted .313, drew 25 walks and became the first Husker sophomore to slug .500 in a season since All-American Ali Viola in 1996. Brechtel also hit six home runs last season, tying for team-high honors with classmate Heidi Foland, a two-year starter.

Add in three-year starter Whitney Barrett, sophomore Jamie Gay, who emerged as a late-season starter last year, and a talented freshman class and the Huskers appear to have the pieces necessary to continue the program's return to national prominence.

"Our goal is to win the Big 12 and our dream would be going to the World Series," Revelle said. "I hope one day soon our goal will be the World Series and we're working to get the program back to that mindset."

The Pitching Staff
Nebraska plans to use a three-pitcher rotation this spring with all three hurlers having at least one season of experience. Junior right-hander Robin Mackin and sophomore right-hander Ashley Hagemann are expected to be the Huskers' primary pitchers, while senior right-hander Alex Hupp will also see time in the circle.

Mackin has the proven potential to be a game-changer for Nebraska, as she was an All-American on the field and in the classroom as a sophomore at Fresno State in 2007. Mackin has battled injuries over the last two years, as she has not made a Division I start since May of 2007 and made just one appearance with the Huskers last season before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in March.

When healthy, Mackin has shown the ability to be one of the most dominating pitchers in the game. In two years at Fresno State, Mackin posted a 64-25 record with a 1.45 ERA and 771 strikeouts. She has also competed at the highest levels of international play, including making three appearances and posting a 2.10 ERA at the 2008 Olympics.

A hard thrower, Mackin appears to have worked her way back to health. Although less than 100 percent, Mackin made four starts last fall, allowing only one run in 18.0 innings. She also added 28 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a paltry .105 average.

Mackin's ability to return to full strength would be a major boost to the staff. To illustrate her dominant ability, consider how her statistics at Fresno State would rank in the Husker record books. Mackin's two-year totals as a Bulldog would leave her in impressive standing in the Nebraska career record book, including second in no-hitters, fifth in strikeouts, shutouts and complete games, seventh in victories and innings pitched, eighth in ERA and 10th in saves.

The Huskers have another powering force in the circle in Hagemann. Although she does not possess the experience of Mackin, Hagemann demonstrated periods of brilliance during her freshman season. Her ability to become more consistent after an offseason of maturity and development could give the Huskers a pair of dominating right-handers.

Hagemann was 6-4 last season with a 3.07 ERA, but hidden within the statistics are glimpses of her ability. She allowed only 49 hits in 70.2 innings to rank second among all Big 12 pitchers with a .189 opponent batting average. Hagemann also posted 97 strikeouts to rank second among Big 12 pitchers with an average of 9.61 strikeouts per seven innings.

But there was a learning curve for Hagemann during her freshman season. More than half of the hits she allowed went for extra bases, including 12 home runs, which directly led to 20 of the 31 runs she allowed (65 percent). During the offseason, Hagemann dedicated herself to becoming more consistent. She worked extensively with Husker pitching coach Lori Sippel on developing and locating her pitches, as well as deepening her understanding of the mental aspects of pitching, including working the count.

Her work began to pay dividends during the fall season, when Hagemann posted a 1.08 ERA in a team-high 26.0 innings. She also added 40 strikeouts while posting a strikeout-to-walk ratio of nearly 4-to-1, in addition to holding hitters to a .125 average.

Hupp will be the Huskers' third option in the circle. She owns a 13-8 career record with a 2.84 ERA in 167.2 innings. Hupp posted her best statistical season last year in a similar role to what she is expected to play this season. Hupp went 2-0 in 2009 with a 1.65 ERA and posted one shutout in her two starts, while allowing only 10 hits on the season.

With her contrasting style, Hupp is a nice complement to Mackin and Hagemann. In addition to her duties in the circle, Hupp will also compete for a starting spot in the outfield.

All three pitchers are expected to contribute offensively. Counting her two years at Fresno State, Mackin is the team's career offensive leader in nearly every statistical category, including hits (95), doubles (13), home runs (8) and RBIs (60). Her .279 career batting average is also tops among all players with at least 15 career at bats. Mackin could also serve as the Huskers' designated player when she's not pitching.

Hagemann saw limited action offensively last season as she primarily focused her efforts on pitching. She is expected to return to the lineup this season after going 4-for-14 as a freshman. During the fall, Hagemann went 6-for-13 (.462) with a double, a home run and three RBIs. She also drew one walk and did not strike out.

Hupp is a career .136 hitter, but possesses solid power. Ten of her 23 career hits have gone for extra bases, including seven doubles and three home runs. She hit a career-best .219 last year, while producing four extra-base hits and eight RBIs in only 32 at bats.

The Catchers
Two sophomores and a freshman will compete for the starting catcher position left open by the graduation of 2009 All-Big 12 selection Amanda Duran. Sophomore Ashley Guile, who missed all of 2009 with an elbow injury, is the frontrunner to be the Huskers' everyday catcher. Fellow sophomore Kirby Wright is expected to push Guile for playing time after serving as Nebraska's backup catcher last season. New to the mix is freshman Megan Southworth, who may have a hard time breaking into the catching rotation, although her bat is expected to earn her time in the lineup this season.

Guile saw time at catcher as a freshman in 2008, starting 25 games behind the plate. She then redshirted last season while continuing to rehab the elbow on her throwing arm following offseason surgery.

As a freshman, Guile's bat earned her 50 starts in the middle of the Husker lineup. Expected to be a middle-of-the-order hitter again in 2010, Guile batted .250 as a freshman but showed great plate discipline by drawing 25 walks, the most by a Husker freshman since All-American Jennifer Lizama walked 26 times in 1997. Defensively, Guile committed only one error at catcher, but threw out only 3-of-26 base stealers.

Wright is arguably the Huskers' top defensive catcher. She earned three starts behind the plate in 2009 and was perfect in 23 chances while throwing out both runners who attempted to steal against her. Offensively, Wright earned only nine at bats last season as she adjusted to Division I pitching. Although she did not record a hit, Wright displayed a disciplined approach, drawing three walks and recording one RBI on a sacrifice fly. Last fall, Wright went 2-for-7 at the plate with a double and a run scored.

Southworth comes to Nebraska after a stellar prep career at Papillion-LaVista High School, where she was a two-time state champion and a three-time all-state selection. Southworth is solid offensively and defensively. Over her final two high school seasons, Southworth hit nearly .450 with 21 doubles, five home runs and 56 RBIs.

During the Huskers' fall season, Southworth went 4-for-10 at the plate with a pair of doubles and a team-high five walks. In addition to working at catcher, Southworth could also see time as the designated player or in the outfield.

The Infield
Nebraska returns four infielders with starting experience, but the only loss on the infield is a big one, as four-time All-Big 12 selection Crystal Carwile started all but four games at first base over the past four seasons. The Huskers return their starting middle infielders from the past two seasons in senior shortstop Whitney Barrett and junior second baseman Julie Brechtel. Junior Heidi Foland and sophomore Jamie Gay also return, after the duo split time at third base last season. But even with both returning, freshman Gabby Banda is the frontrunner to start at third, while classmate Keela Scott will back up Brechtel at second base.

Barrett is a three-year starter on the infield, including starting at shortstop each of the past two seasons. Barrett has shown flashes of potential at the plate. She hit .247 in 2008 and although that total dipped last season, Barrett still produced career-high totals of 20 runs scored, 12 RBIs, 18 walks and four stolen bases, while hitting her first career home run.

Nebraska's only letterwinner ever from Alabama, Barrett is best known for her defense. She boasts a .947 career fielding percentage, including a .951 mark last year at short. She was steady all season and committed only one error over the final 18 games of 2009.

Brechtel enters her third season as the Huskers' starting second baseman and teams with Barrett to give Nebraska one of the top middle infield defenses in the conference. Like Barrett, Brechtel is a solid defender, but Brechtel broke out at the plate in a big way in 2009.

En route to earning her first career Big 12 Player of the Week honor and a spot on the Big 12 Championship all-tournament team, Brechtel proved to be one of the Huskers' most consistent hitters. Brechtel batted .313 in 2009 with seven doubles, six home runs and 28 RBIs. After hitting .220 with only four doubles as a freshman, Brechtel emerged to post the fourth-best slugging percentage by a sophomore in Husker history.

Brechtel also showed patience at the plate, coaxing 25 walks - the fifth-highest total ever by a Husker sophomore - en route to posting a .431 on-base percentage. Her continued emergence offensively, the experience gained in her 105 career starts and her versatility to be able to hit anywhere in the lineup are valuable assets for a relatively young Husker lineup. Defensively, she has committed only 12 errors in two seasons, including a 31-game errorless streak in 2009 and a pair of 12-game stretches without an error in 2008.

At third base, Foland and Gay have combined to start all but three games at the position over the last two seasons. Even so, Banda has emerged as the likely starter as Gay has worked at both first and third base, while Foland has worked primarily at first base.

A native of Grand Island, Neb., Foland is one of the Huskers' best athletes. She turned down Division II scholarship offers in basketball to walk on with the Nebraska softball team and her potential has shown up in a variety of ways on the diamond despite relative inexperience with the sport. Foland batted .252 as a freshman and showed increased power as a sophomore.

She recorded 13 extra-base hits in 2009, including tying Brechtel for team-high honors with six home runs. Foland's slugging percentage increased more than .100 and thanks to 11 walks and six hit-by-pitches, her on-base percentage was on par with her freshman season despite a dip in her batting average. Defensively, Foland owns a .906 career fielding percentage, but her athleticism could be a big asset at first base.

After seeing limited action early last season, Gay emerged to make 15 starts during her freshman campaign. She started 12 of the season's final 15 games, including 11 at third base. Although she finished the season with a .196 average, Gay flashed her power potential by homering once and adding three doubles as 40 percent of her hits went for extra bases.

Defensively, Gay posted a .943 fielding percentage but in Big 12 Conference play, Gay earned nine starts at third base and was perfect in 44 chances. With the emergence of Banda and an opening at first base, Gay is a likely candidate to compete for playing time at both first base and third base.

Banda enjoyed a terrific fall season and proved to be a natural at third base, making her the frontrunner to earn the starting job despite the returning experience of Foland and Gay. A quick and smooth fielder, Banda most impressed the Husker coaching staff with her glove work, but she also had bright spots at the plate.

A tough out, Banda hit .300 during the fall season, going 6-for-20 with a double and three RBIs. She also scored five runs and struck out only once. A natural athlete, Banda was a basketball and softball star for Angleton High School. The first Texas native to sign with Nebraska in the 17-year tenure of Head Coach Rhonda Revelle, Banda batted .412 with 46 runs scored, 10 doubles, five triples and 23 RBIs as a senior in high school while earning third-team all-state honors from the Texas Sports Writers Association.

Scott, another freshman, will back up Brechtel at second base while adjusting to the Division I level. Scott is also expected to be one of the Huskers' top pinch-runners and could see some action at the plate. During the fall season, Scott was 0-for-5 with a pair of walks offensively, while scoring five runs.

An intelligent student and athlete, Scott is the first Missouri native to ever sign with the Husker program. Despite missing her senior season at Liberty High School, Scott was a two-time first-team all-district selection.

Sophomore Ashley Guile could also figure into the infield mix. Although she is expected to be Nebraska's starting catcher, Guile has some experience at first base and could move there when she's not catching in an effort to keep her bat in the lineup.

The Outfield
After losing all three starting outfielders from 2009 - including two three-year starters and one two-year starter - the outfield promises to be the most competitive position for Nebraska in 2010. A slew of Huskers will compete for starting positions and playing time in the outfield and that competition is expected to continue into the tournament portion of NU's schedule.

Eight players are competing to replace the wealth of lost starting experience, including All-Big 12 performers Haley Long and Meghan Mullin. Six of those players have never started a game in the outfield, as only senior Alex Hupp and junior Crystal Gonzalez have starting outfield experience, but that experience came as freshmen in 2007 for both players.

Hupp started 19 games in left field in 2007 but spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons working primarily at pitcher. Hupp is expected to be the Huskers' No. 3 pitcher this season in addition to competing for a starting outfield spot, most likely in left or right field.

The most experienced outfielder on the Nebraska roster, Hupp is still relatively new to the position, but she brings big bat potential to the lineup. Although she is only a career .136 hitter, nearly half of her career hits have been for extra bases. She ranks fourth among all Huskers with seven career doubles and three career home runs, despite limited opportunities at the plate.

Gonzalez is the only other Husker with outfield experience, although she has been plagued by injuries. Nebraska's top defensive outfielder, Gonzalez appeared in 30 games as a freshman in 2007, earning 23 starts in center field. Her rookie season came to an abrupt end when she tore her ACL and missed the second half of the year. Gonzalez suffered two more ACL tears, causing her to miss the entire 2008 season and all but four games of the 2009 campaign.

When healthy, Gonzalez is a natural center fielder with good speed and a strong arm. Offensively, she has earned only 57 career at bats. She owns a career .211 average, but her versatility as a slap-hitter and speedy base runner could provide a boost to the Nebraska lineup.

Juniors Heidi Foland and Tori Tyson will also figure into the outfield mix. Foland has been the Huskers' starting third baseman the past two seasons, but could see time in the outfield with a lack of experience at the position and the emergence of freshman Gabby Banda at third base.

Foland got her first work in the outfield during the fall season and the move seemed natural for the talented athlete. She is expected to primarily work at first base this season, but could figure into the outfield mix as well. Offensively, Foland tied for the team lead with six home runs last season, while she is a career .231 hitter and has stolen 19 bases in 20 attempts.

Also making a switch to the outfield this season is Tyson, who appeared in 17 games as a pitcher over the last two years. Tyson is not expected to pitch this season, instead focusing her full-time attention on the outfield. With her pitching role, Tyson's offensive impact was limited to only one at bat and a pair of pinch-running appearances over the past two seasons.

Tyson is not only converting to a new position, but she is also working on becoming a hitter after primarily slapping before this season. With a renewed focus on her offensive skills, Tyson's versatility as a hitter and slapper could be a nice addition to the Husker lineup.

Competing for a starting outfield job among the sophomore class are Madison Drake and Nikki Haget. Both players entered the Husker program as infielders, before being moved to the outfield. Drake made the move to the outfield prior to last season, while Haget did not make the move until midway through her freshman campaign.

Drake appeared in 16 contests in 2009, scoring seven runs as a pinch-runner and stealing one base. She pinch hit only once, but she showed potential at the plate during the Huskers' fall season. Drake went 5-for-10 last fall to post a team-best .500 batting average. She also doubled, drove in three runs and drew one walk.

Haget's role as the Huskers' top pinch-runner last season did not allow her to get any work defensively or at the plate. Despite an injury that kept her out of 20 straight games, Haget still pinch ran in 27 contests and scored 11 runs while stealing two bases in three attempts. During the fall season, Haget started six games and went 4-for-14 with six runs scored and a team-high five RBIs. She worked primarily in center field during the fall and as a slap-hitter, she is a natural fit for either the top or bottom of the Husker order.

The primary freshman in the mix is Brooke Thomason, who was considered to be a leading candidate for a season-opening starting job before undergoing surgery following the fall season. Thomason is expected to be healthy this season and will figure prominently into the outfield rotation, although she could be limited early in the year as she continues to return to full strength.

Thomason went 4-for-16 last fall with a pair of runs scored and three RBIs. She was perfect defensively in 11 chances. In her prep career at Blue Valley Northwest, Thomason earned first-team all-state honors in Kansas' largest classification as a senior. She batted .507 as a senior, .470 as a junior and .527 as a sophomore, while finishing her career with a .498 average, 30 doubles, 17 triples, seven home runs and 81 RBIs.

Fellow freshman Megan Southworth could also see time in the outfield in addition to working into the Huskers' three-catcher rotation. Southworth showed strong offensive potential in the fall and if her bat makes it hard to keep her off the field, she could land in the outfield.

Overall, competition for outfield playing time will be fierce this season and head coach Rhonda Revelle said a candidate's impact on the Husker lineup could be a major factor when penciling in the lineup.