Nebraska Opens 2011 Season at Kajikawa Classic

The Nebraska softball team travels to Tempe, Ariz., this week to open its 2011 season at the Kajikawa Classic, hosted by Arizona State. The Huskers will play six games in four days in the desert, opening their season on Thursday against Portland State.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Nebraska faces a challenging schedule in its opening tournament. The Huskers play San Jose State in their first game on Friday before meeting No. 1 Arizona later that night. Nebraska then faces perennial power Cal State Fullerton before closing the tournament against No. 18 Stanford and an Oregon State team receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball top-25 poll.

 

Head Coach Rhonda Revelle, who is beginning her 19th season at Nebraska, believes her team has the talent and experience needed to face such a challenging early-season schedule.

 

“I honestly believe this is a very talented team,” Revelle said. “We return almost all of our starters from last season, including four players who were either all-conference or all-region performers. We’ve also added some talented new players, including two junior college All-Americans and one high school All-American. Not only do we feel we have talent, but we have experience as well.”

 

Nebraska must replace only one starter in the field and in the circle, the Huskers return right-hander Ashley Hagemann, who threw more than half of the team’s total innings last season. Overall, Nebraska returns 11 players who combined to start nearly 80 percent of the Huskers’ 59 games last season.

 

Offensively, Nebraska returns its top five hitters from last spring, including four players who earned all-conference honors, all-region accolades or both. The Huskers’ 11 returning hitters combined for a .285 average, 348 hits, 66 doubles, 38 home runs, 206 runs scored and 189 RBIs in 2010. Nebraska’s totals of doubles (second), home runs (second), RBIs (fourth), runs (fifth) and hits (fifth) all rank among the top five returning totals in school history.

 

Even with all of the returning offensive talent, Revelle still expects Nebraska’s talented newcomers to add production to the lineup. Freshmen twin sisters Tatum and Taylor Edwards are both expected to start the season’s first game, while junior college transfer Saige Wright and redshirt freshman Kylee Muir could also earn a starting spot this week.

 

In the circle, Hagemann is the only one of Nebraska’s three pitchers with Division I experience. She posted a 15-16 record in 2010 with a 3.32 ERA and 227 strikeouts in 212.2 innings. Hagemann ended her season in strong fashion, compiling a 2.02 ERA while starting Nebraska’s final six games, including a 0.97 ERA in the NCAA Tournament.

 

Behind Hagemann are a pair of newcomers. Junior Haley Workman is expected to see significant action in her first season. Workman was a junior college All-American the past two seasons at Chattanooga State. Tatum Edwards will also work into the rotation.

 

Nebraska is coming off a 30-29 campaign in 2010. The Huskers made their 20th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance last spring and their 15th appearance in the past 16 seasons.

 

Scouting the Portland State Vikings

Nebraska opens its season against a Portland State team that finished as the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Mountain Division champion last season. The Vikings were 30-27 overall last season against a tough schedule and went 18-2 in league play. PSU is coached by Tobin Echo-Hawk, who was a three-time All-American at Nebraska from 1993 to 1996. The matchup with Echo-Hawk will mark the first time Husker Head Coach Rhonda Revelle has faced one of her former players-turned head coach.

  

Portland State was led by its pitching staff in 2010, and the Vikings return their top two pitchers this season. Anna Bertrand returns after posting a 16-10 record, a 1.61 ERA and 218 strikeouts in 165.0 innings as a freshman last season. Nichole Latham is back for her senior season after going 9-7 with a 2.68 ERA in 104.2 innings last season. She was 8-0 with a 0.60 ERA in 10 league appearances.

  

At the plate, Portland State hit .257 last season and averaged 3.6 runs per game. The Vikings hit .315 in league play and hit 12 of their 19 home runs during the conference season. PSU must replace the production of Brandi Scoggins, who was the only Viking to hit .300 last season. Scoggins led the team in average, hits, triples, walks, slugging percentage and on-base percentage in 2010. Becca Diede is also gone after leading PSU in doubles, home runs, runs scored and RBIs last season. The Vikings’ top returning hitter is Lacey Holm, who batted .264 last season with six doubles, two homers and 19 RBIs.

  

The all-time series between the two programs is even at 1-1. The teams met twice in a season-opening tournament in Hawaii in 2007, with NU winning the first meeting 1-0 and Portland State winning the rematch 2-0.

 

Scouting the San Jose State Spartans

San Jose State posted a 34-25 record in 2010, but the Spartans lost 10 letterwinners from last season. SJSU’s 2011 roster features 11 newcomers among its 24 total players. Head Coach Peter Turner is in his fifth season at San Jose State. SJSU was the last coaching stop for Husker Head Coach Rhonda Revelle before she arrived in Lincoln.

  

SJSU boasted a powerful offense in 2010, averaging more than five runs per game while batting .284 as a team. Four Spartan regulars hit better than .300 in 2010, but none of the four return. Overall, San Jose State must replace its top six batting averages from last season and five of its top six totals in hits, runs, triples, home runs and RBIs. The Spartans’ top returning hitter is Breanna Lopez, who had only 67 at bats last season but batted .313 with four homers and 18 RBIs.

  

In the circle, San Jose State allowed five runs per game last season and posted a 4.12 ERA. The Spartans return three of their four pitchers, including preseason All-Western Athletic Conference selection Amanda Pridmore. Pridmore was 18-12 with a 3.27 ERA in 207.2 innings last season.

 

NU leads the all-time series, 5-3, after winning twice on back-to-back days in the most recent meetings in 1999. SJSU’s last win was an 8-1 run-rule victory over the 1998 Huskers, who ended the year ranked fifth.

 

Scouting the Arizona Wildcats

Arizona enters the opening week of play with the No. 1 ranking in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25. The Wildcats finished as the national runner-up last season. Arizona returns all but one starter from last year’s squad, including All-Americans Kenzie Fowler, Brittany Lastrapes and Stacie Chambers.

  

Offensively, Arizona homered 107 times in 2010 and averaged more than seven runs per game. The Wildcats return two .400 hitters and three more regulars who hit better than .320. Lastrapes batted .413 with 17 doubles, 16 homers and 56 RBIs in 2010, while Chambers hit .360 with 21 homers and 77 RBIs.

  

In the circle, Fowler posted a 38-9 record with 371 strikeouts and a 1.53 ERA in 284.1 innings as a freshman in 2010. Fowler’s younger sister Mattie will be a freshman at Nebraska this fall.

  

Arizona leads the all-time series, 12-2. The Wildcats have won the last 10 meetings, including a 1-0 win at the 2002 World Series in the most recent meeting.

 

Scouting the Cal State Fullerton Titans

Cal State Fullerton was 14-39 in 2010 and missed the NCAA Tournament for only the second time since 1999. The Titans return eight starters and all but one pitcher in 2011.

  

Fullerton batted .233 last season and slugged 36 home runs to average 3.3 runs per game. Nicole Johnson and Torrie Anderson were the Titans’ top two hitters in 2010 and both are back this spring. Both players hit .287 last year, while Anderson led the team with 45 hits, eight doubles, 11 homers, 27 RBIs, 29 walks and 33 runs scored.

  

In the circle, the Titans gave up nearly six runs per game last season but bring back an experienced pitching staff. Ari Cervantes returns after throwing nearly half the team’s innings a season ago. In 2010, Cervantes was 6-19 with a 4.68 ERA in 154.0 innings.

  

Cal State Fullerton leads the all-time series, 8-7. The Titans defeated the Huskers 4-2 in the most recent meeting in 2009, snapping Nebraska’s four-game win streak in the series.

 

Scouting the Stanford Cardinal

Stanford begins the season as the nation’s No. 18 team on the heels of a 37-19 campaign in 2010. The Cardinal returns 12 letterwinners and six starters, including All-American Ashley Hansen.

  

Stanford scored nearly five runs per game last season and returns a pair of .300 hitters in Hansen and Jenna Rich. Hansen batted .337 with 18 doubles, three homers and 39 RBIs in 2010, while Rich hit .326 with 10 doubles and team-high totals of 12 homers and 47 RBIs. Stanford must replace the production of Alissa Haber, who batted .446 with 15 doubles, six homers, 35 RBIs and 23 stolen bases last year.

  

In the circle, Stanford returns every pitcher from last year’s team that posted a 2.69 ERA. Teagan Gerhart is back after going 22-7 with a 1.65 ERA in 190.1 innings as a freshman in 2010.

  

Stanford leads the all-time series, 4-3. The Cardinal snapped a two-game losing streak with a 7-3 win in the 2006 season opener.

 

Scouting the Oregon State Beavers

Oregon State is receiving votes in the top-25 poll after finishing 24-31 last season. The Beavers return nine position players who started at least 29 games last season - including eight who made more than 40 starts - and their top pitcher.

 

OSU averaged 4.3 runs per game in 2010, but gave up an average of 5.3 runs per contest. Offensively, Lea Cavestany is back after batting .350 with 11 doubles, seven homers and 33 RBIs in 2010. Audrey Roderfeld also returns after leading the Beavers with 12 doubles, 14 homers and 45 RBIs last spring.

 

Paige Hall returns after throwing more than 60 percent of OSU’s total innings last spring. Hall was 17-22 with a 3.63 ERA in 2010.

 

Nebraska leads the all-time series 9-3, including an 8-2 win in the most recent meeting in 2006. The Huskers have won five of the last six meetings, with Oregon State’s last win coming in 2004.

 

Quick Hitters

The information below provides a quick glimpse of a few statistics and brief notes of interest as the Huskers open their 2011 season with six games in four days at the Kajikawa Classic.

• The Huskers lost their season opener last season and have dropped five of their last seven season openers.
• Nebraska is  21-13 all-time in season openers and 11-7 under Head Coach Rhonda Revelle.
• The Huskers are 128-75 (.631) all-time in the month of February, including a 9-7 mark last season.
• NU has posted a winning month of February in eight of the last nine seasons (3-6 in 2008).
• Under Revelle, Nebraska is 119-61 (.661) in February. She has posted a winning month of February 13 times in 17 seasons(the Huskers did not play a game in February of 1993, Revelle’s first season).
• Entering the 2011 season, Nebraska’s 11 returning players have combined for 840 career games played at NU, including 691 starts.
• Junior Ashley Guile enters the 2011 season six hits shy of reaching the 100-hit milestone.

Returning Production From 2010

Nebraska must replace only one regular starter in the field (shortstop Whitney Barrett - 58 starts, .195 avg., 2 2B, 1 HR, 12 RBIs) and one regular contributor in the circle (right-hander Robin Mackin - 12-13, 2.61 ERA, 154 Ks, 142.1 innings). Overall, Nebraska returns 11 players from last year’s team who combined to start 426 games in the field and 30 games in the circle.

 

Offensively, Nebraska returns its top five hitters from last season, including four players who earned all-conference honors, all-region accolades or both. The Huskers lost six hitters from last season and those six batters combined for a .204 average, seven doubles, one triple, three home runs and 27 RBIs. Nebraska’s 11 returning hitters combined for a .285 average, 66 doubles, two triples, 38 home runs and 189 RBIs in 2010. The Huskers also welcome four new bats to the lineup, including expected freshmen starters Tatum and Taylor Edwards and transfer Saige Wright, who is also in the mix for a starting position. Taylor Edwards was a three-time Under Armour High School All-American and was named the No. 1 junior in the nation by EA Sports in 2009. Her twin sister Tatum was a four-time all-state selection in high school and was the 2007 California State Freshman of the Year. Wright comes to Nebraska after earning junior college All-America honors last spring.

 

In the circle, right-hander Ashley Hagemann returns for her junior season after throwing 55 percent of Nebraska’s total innings last season. Hagemann posted a 15-16 record with a 3.32 ERA in 2010 and struck out 227 batters in 212.2 innings.

 

Huskers’ Returning Offensive Totals Among Highest in School History

Nebraska’s 2010 offense compared favorably to the best offenses in Husker history. The 2010 Huskers produced totals that ranked among the top six marks in school history in hit-by-pitches (first), doubles per game (third), doubles (fourth), extra-base hits per game (fifth), slugging percentage (sixth), extra-base hits (sixth), home runs (sixth) and home runs per game (sixth). Nebraska returns most of that production in 2011, including bringing back its top five batting averages from a season ago, its top six hit totals, top six doubles totals, top six RBI totals, top six runs totals, top five walks totals, top five home run totals and top five hit-by-pitch totals.

 

Other highlights of Nebraska’s returning offensive production from 2010 include:

• Nebraska returns two players who hit at least 10 home runs last season (Heidi Foland and Brooke Thomason). The Huskers have two returning players coming off a 10-homer season for only the third time in school history and for the first time since 1998. Nebraska has never returned three players who homered 10 times the previous season.
• Nebraska returns four players who batted over .300 last season (Ashley Guile, Nikki Haget, Brooke Thomason, Heidi Foland). The Huskers have four returning .300 hitters for only the third time in school history and for the first time since 1998. Nebraska has never returned five players who hit .300 the previous season. Senior Julie Brechtel has also hit .300 in her career, batting .313 as a sophomore in 2009.
• Nebraska returns three players who hit at least 10 doubles last season (Ashley Guile, Brooke Thomason and Heidi Foland). The Huskers have three returning players coming off a 10-double season for only the third time in school history and for the first time since 2002. Nebraska has never returned four players who hit 10 doubles the previous season.
• Nebraska returns three all-region hitters this spring, tying for the highest total in school history. The Huskers also returned three all-region hitters in 1996, 1998 and 2004. Before this season, Nebraska had not had a single returning all-region hitter since 2007.

A Look at the Probable Lineup

1. Nikki Haget, CF (57 starts, .345, 6 2B, 0 HR, 12 RBIs in 2010)

A slapper, Haget saw her first action in the field and at the plate during her sophomore season in 2010. She won the starting job in center field early in the year and hit .345 with 39 runs scored and 12 stolen bases batting out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup. This season, she moves into the leadoff spot and looks for repeat All-Big 12 honors.

2. Julie Brechtel, 2B (52 starts, .287, 8 2B, 6 HR, 37 RBIs in 2010)

A four-year starter at second, Brechtel ranked fourth among all sophomores in NU history with 25 walks in 2009 and fifth with a .500 slugging percentage. She then ranked third among all juniors in NU history with 37 RBIs in 2010 while earning second-team all-region honors. Defensively, Brechtel has committed one error in her last 52 games.

3. Ashley Guile, DP (59 starts, .382, 15 2B, 4 HR, 42 RBIs in 2010)

After redshirting in 2009, Guile earned all-conference and all-region accolades in 2010. Guile posted top-10 totals in school history in doubles (4th, 15), walks (6th, 35) and average (8th, .382) last spring. After catching 39 games in 2010, Guile will focus on offense as the designated player in 2011. She hit .480 in that role last season.

4. Taylor Edwards, C (No Division I experience)

A talented freshman, Edwards will start her career as NU’s cleanup hitter, despite the Huskers returning each of their top five hitters from last season. Edwards was a three-time Under Armour All-American in high school and was named the nation’s top junior by EA Sports in 2009. She hit .520 with 38 homers and 135 RBIs in her prep career.

5. Heidi Foland, 3B (59 starts, .310, 14 2B, 11 HR, 28 RBIs in 2010)

Foland enjoyed a breakout junior season in 2010 and is Nebraska’s active career leader in games played, hits, runs, doubles, home runs and stolen bases. She homered 13 times in 2010, the sixth-highest total in school history and the highest total in 10 seasons. Foland boasts 41 career extra-base hits (21 doubles, 19 homers, one triple).

6. Brooke Thomason, RF (52 starts, .321, 14 2Bs, 11 HR, 38 RBIs in 2010)

Thomason had a bone removed from her foot prior to last season and still earned all-conference and all-region honors as a freshman. With a .321 average, 14 doubles and 11 home runs, Thomason became only the second freshman in Husker history to hit .300 and produce 10 doubles and 10 home runs and only the eighth player overall.

7. Tatum Edwards, 1B (No Division I experience)

Edwards will fill a variety of roles as a freshman for the Huskers in 2011. The majority of her playing time is expected to come at first base, but she will also work in the outfield and in the circle. A four-time all-state selection, Edwards posted a 42-14 record and 608 strikeouts in her prep career, while batting .403 with 34 homers and 133 RBIs.

8. Madison Drake, LF (5 starts, .200, 0 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBIs in 2010)

Drake entered the Husker program as a pitcher and infielder, but after two years of development, she is poised to compete for a starting job in left field. Drake earned her first five career starts last season and recorded her first three career hits and first two career RBIs. Drake also has been Nebraska’s top pinch runner the past two seasons.

-OR- Megan Southworth, LF (17 starts, .220, 2 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBIs in 2010)

Southworth made the conversion from catcher to the outfield early in her freshman season, earning 17 total starts, including nine in left field. After batting .220 last season, Southworth is competing to be the Huskers’ starting left fielder in 2010. Last year, her .286 average in Big 12 play ranked third on the team.

-OR- Saige Wright, LF (No Division I experience)

Wright has the ability to find her way onto the field in a variety of ways in her first season, as she could start in left field or at first base. An All-American at Wallace State last spring, the speedy Wright batted .314 with 85 runs scored and 65 steals in her junior college career. In 2011, she is moving across the batter’s box to bat left-handed.

9. Gabby Banda, SS (55 starts, .194, 6 2B, 3 HR, 16 RBIs in 2010)

Banda won Nebraska’s starting job at third base last season and will slide over to the starting shortstop position in 2011. Banda showed power and patience at the plate as a freshman, producing 10 extra-base hits and drawing 23 walks. In an effort to maximize her speed and potential, Banda will bat left-handed for the first time this spring.

10. Ashley Hagemann, P (8 starts, .120, 1 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBIs in 2010; 30 starts, 15-16, 3.32 ERA, 227 Ks, 212.2 IP in 2010)

Hagemann set a school record with 19 strikeouts in her debut and finished her freshman year ranked third in the Big 12 in opponent average and strikeouts per seven innings. Last season, Hagemann finished second in the league in saves and fourth in strikeouts. Her career average of 8.0 strikeouts per seven innings ranks fourth in NU history.

-OR- Haley Workman, P (No Division I experience)

Workman was a junior college All-American at Chattanooga State each of the past two seasons. She boasted a 57-8 career record in junior college with a 1.16 ERA and 603 strikeouts in 384.2 innings. One of two newcomers in Nebraska’s three-pitcher rotation, Workman is expected to see significant action for the Huskers this spring.

 

Morgan McCann, INF/OF (No Division I experience)

McCann is the lone Nebraska native among this year’s class of newcomers. A two-time honorable-mention all-state selection at Omaha Burke, McCann will work in both the outfield and infield in addition to pinch-running duties.

Kylee Muir, INF (No Division I experience)

Muir redshirted last spring but adds a powerful left-handed bat to the Husker lineup. She is competing for a starting position at first base after earning a spot on the all-state team all four years at Lincoln High in Portland, Ore.

Tori Tyson, OF (47 starts, .129, 2 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI in 2010)

Tyson emerged as Nebraska’s starting left fielder in 2010, making 47 starts after spending her first two years in the program as a pitcher. A chronic back injury is expected to limit Tyson’s availability throughout her senior season.

Kirby Wright, C (23 starts, .224, 2 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBIs in 2010)

Wright has been a solid catcher the past two years, working behind a different All-Big 12 catcher each season. She started 20 games at catcher in 2010 and three games as the designated player, batting .224 on the year.

 

Chasing History

Seniors Julie Brechtel and Heidi Foland both have a chance this season to join an exclusive group of Huskers who have produced 100 career hits, RBIs and runs scored. Only seven players in the history of Nebraska softball have reached each of those milestones and only once (2003) has a Husker team featured two players who totaled 100 career hits, RBIs and runs scored.

 

Brechtel and Foland each have work to do to reach at least one of the milestones. Brechtel enters the year with 115 career hits, 81 RBIs and 65 runs scored. Her career high for runs scored is 30 and she would need 35 runs scored in 2011 to reach that milestone. Aiding that cause is a move up the lineup to the No. 2 spot in the batting order and a Husker offense that is expected to produce more runs in 2011.

 

Foland enters her senior year with 117 career hits, 86 runs scored and 59 RBIs. She needs 41 RBIs this season to reach that milestone and her career best is 28 last season. But Foland batted leadoff last season and nine of her team-high 13 home runs were solo shots. In 2011, Foland is moving to the middle of the Husker order and should have more RBI opportunities.

 

Guile Named to Player-of-the-Year Watch List

Junior Ashley Guile was among 50 players named to the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year preseason watch list, announced on Feb. 2 by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America.

 

Guile was the first Husker hitter named to the preseason watch list since Nicole Trimboli in 2004. As a sophomore in 2010, Guile batted .382 with 15 doubles, four home runs and 42 RBIs. She also drew 35 walks and was hit by 11 pitches to post a .520 on-base percentage to complement a .554 slugging percentage. Guile’s 15 doubles were the most ever by a Husker sophomore and ranked fourth all-time, while her .382 average ranked third among all sophomores in NU history and eighth all-time. Her 11 hit-by-pitches tied teammate Julie Brechtel for the school record, while her 35 walks marked the sixth-highest total in school history.

 

For her efforts, Guile was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2010 and a second-team All-Midwest region selection. Guile started 39 of her 59 games at catcher last season, becoming the first Husker catcher to garner first-team all-conference accolades since Jenny Smith in 1997.

 

Foland Looks to Build on Career Year

Heidi Foland returns for her senior season after a breakout junior campaign in 2010. Foland set career highs in every offensive category last spring, even eclipsing her two-year career totals in runs, hits and home runs by finishing with a .310 average, 50 runs scored, 61 hits, 10 doubles, 13 homers and 28 RBIs.

 

Foland’s 13 home runs were the highest total by a Husker in 10 seasons and ranked third among all juniors in school history and sixth overall. Foland also led off a game with a home run five times in 2010, setting both the Nebraska team and individual record in that category.

 

Foland finished with 110 total bases in 2010, a total that ranked fifth among all players in the Big 12 Conference. She was the first Husker to record 100 total bases since 2003. In addition to her 13 homers, Foland added 10 doubles to become one of eight players in school history to produce 10 doubles and 10 home runs in the same season.

 

Foland enters 2011 with 19 career home runs, despite not homering her freshman season. Only four players in Husker history have hit 30 career home runs. If Foland can duplicate her 13 home runs from a season ago, her career total of 32 home runs would tie for third in school history.

 

Thomason Sets Sights on Standout Sophomore Season

Brooke Thomason returns for her sophomore season in 2011 after earning second-team all-conference and all-region honors as a freshman. Thomason batted .321 with 14 doubles, 11 homers and 38 RBIs in 2010.

 

During her fine freshman season, Thomason joined three-time All-American Ali Viola as the only freshmen in school history to hit .300 and produce at least 10 doubles and 10 home runs. Overall, Thomason was only the third freshman in NU history to record 10 doubles and 10 home runs. Thomason also joined Viola as the only freshmen in Husker history to produce a pair of five-RBI games. Thomason was only the eighth Husker freshman to hit .300 and the first in 10 seasons. She was also the first Husker freshman to produce 50 hits since 2001 and only the sixth NU freshman to record a multi-homer game.

 

In conference play, Thomason hit five of Nebraska’s 12 home runs. Her five homers tied the Husker freshman record for most home runs in a conference season and marked the fifth-highest total by any freshman in Big 12 history (1996-present). Overall, Thomason ranked eighth among all Big 12 players in doubles last season and ninth in home runs.

  

Huskers Seeking First Win vs. No. 1 Team

When Nebraska faces No. 1 Arizona on Friday, the Huskers will be looking for their first win in nine tries against the nation’s top-ranked team. NU is 0-8 against No. 1-ranked teams since the first regular softball poll began in 1995. The Huskers have not faced the No. 1 team since a season-opening loss to UCLA in 2004. Nebraska has faced a No. 1-ranked Arizona squad four times, including three meetings in the NCAA Tournament.

 

 

Hagemann Looks to Build on 2010 Late-Season Surge

Right-hander Ashley Hagemann saw her first extensive action as a sophomore in 2010 and as the only returning pitcher on Nebraska’s 2011 staff, she will again be expected to be a key contributor this spring. Hagemann finished with a 15-16 record and a 3.32 ERA in 2010, adding 227 strikeouts in 212.2 innings. She enjoyed a strong finish to her sophomore season and Nebraska hopes her finish was a preview of what to expect this spring.

 

Hagemann started Nebraska’s final six games of 2010, with all six starts coming against NCAA Tournament teams, including five matchups against ranked teams. In those six games, Hagemann posted a 2.08 ERA, allowing only 23 hits in 37.0 innings while striking out 39. In the NCAA Tournament, Hagemann took her game to another level, allowing only two earned runs and nine hits while posting a 0.67 ERA in 21.0 innings.

 

The strong finish helped Hagemann rank second among all Big 12 pitchers in saves, tied for third in appearances, fourth in strikeouts, fifth in innings pitched and complete games, sixth in starts, ninth in shutouts and tied for 10th in wins.

 

Huskers Welcome Talented Newcomers

Nebraska returns all but one position starter from last season and brings back more than half of its total innings pitched, but even with all of the experience returning, the Huskers are expecting contributions from a talented group of newcomers. Five players are in their first seasons with the program in 2011, including junior college transfers Haley Workman and Saige Wright and true freshmen Tatum Edwards, Taylor Edwards and Morgan McCann. Redshirt freshman Kylee Muir is also looking for her first playing time after sitting out last season.

 

Workman and Tatum Edwards will both work into Nebraska’s pitching staff. Workman is expected to see significant action after earning junior college All-America honors the past two seasons at Chattanooga State. In her two-year junior college career, Workman posted a 57-8 record with a 1.16 ERA and 603 strikeouts in 384.2 innings. Edwards will also work into the rotation, although she is also a candidate for a starting position in the field. In her high school career, Edwards was 42-14 with 17 shutouts and 608 strikeouts in 413.1 innings.

 

Tatum’s twin sister Taylor is expected to be Nebraska’s starting catcher and cleanup hitter in 2011. In her prep career, the 2009 National Junior of the Year hit .520 with 38 home runs and 135 RBIs. Her skills earned her an invitation to try out for the 2010 U.S. Junior National Team. Tatum Edwards is also expected to be a starter in the field when she’s not pitching. Tatum could start at first base or in the outfield. In her high school career, Tatum batted .403 with 34 home runs and 133 RBIs.

 

Wright and Muir will also compete for starting spots in their first season. Both will compete with Tatum Edwards for the starting spot at first, while Wright will also work in the outfield. Wright was a junior college All-American at Wallace State last season. She was a .314 hitter in her junior college career and also brings speed to the team, as she stole 65 bases the past two seasons. While Wright adds speed, Muir brings power to the plate.  Muir was a four-time all-state selection in high school and ranked third in the state of Oregon with a .519 batting average as a junior, while leading the state’s largest class with a 1.222 slugging percentage and a .711 on-base percentage.

 

McCann rounds out Nebraska’s 2011 class of newcomers. McCann will work in both the outfield and the infield in an effort to find a position to focus on for the remainder of her career. A speedy player, McCann is expected to be a key pinch-runner for the Huskers this spring after earning honorable-mention all-state honors in her final two seasons in high school.

 

Nebraska Offense Looks to Remain Tough at the Top

Nebraska returns each of its Nos. 1-5 hitters from last season in seniors Julie Brechtel and Heidi Foland, juniors Ashley Guile and Nikki Haget and sophomore Brooke Thomason. Last season, that group batted a combined .328 with 53 doubles, one triple, 34 home runs, 157 RBIs and 159 runs scored. The group also boasted a .514 slugging percentage and a .414 on-base percentage.

 

Nebraska’s History with the Season Opener

Nebraska has won 21 of its 34 all-time season openers, a winning percentage of .618. The Huskers lost their 2010 season opener and have lost their last two season openers at an Arizona State tournament, falling to California in 2008 and Stanford in 2006.

 

Revelle Inducted into NFCA Hall of Fame

Head Coach Rhonda Revelle was formally inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Friday, Dec. 10, as part of the 2010 NFCA National Convention in San Diego. Revelle was joined in the 2010 Hall of Fame class by Florida Southern Head Coach Chris Bellotto and Illinois State Head Coach Melinda Fischer. All three were inducted at a hall of fame banquet, and their selections increased the number of hall of fame coaches to 53 since the organization created its hall of fame in 1991.

 

To be eligible for induction into the NFCA Hall of Fame, the individual must have served as a head coach for a minimum of 15 years, must have been an NFCA member in good standing for a minimum of six years during his or her coaching career and must have made contributions to the NFCA by serving on committees, holding office, or serving in other capacities. In addition to her coaching career, Revelle has twice served as NFCA President, along with a stint as Second Vice President. She has also been actively involved in NFCA committees, serving as a member of the NFCA All-American Committee for four years before chairing the committee for two more years.

 

Huskers Picked Eighth in Preseason Big 12 Poll

Nebraska was picked to finish eighth in the Big 12 Conference preseason coaches’ poll. Of the seven teams picked to finish ahead of the Huskers, six made an appearance in the top 25 last season and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The only team ahead of the Huskers that did not earn a top-25 ranking last season and a berth to the postseason was Baylor. The Lady Bears made it to a Super Regional in 2009 behind Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Whitney Canion, who missed most of last season due to an injury. She is expected to return to full strength for Baylor this season.