Huskers Well Represented on All-Big Ten Teams

Three Huskers earned first-team All-Big Ten honors on Wednesday, while a trio of underclassmen took home second-team accolades. Head Coach Rhonda Revelle was also honored by the league, as she was named the 2014 Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Senior twins Tatum and Taylor Edwards were named to the first team for the second straight year, while sophomore Hailey Decker was also a first-team selection, earning the first All-Big Ten honor of her career. Sophomores Alicia Armstrong and Emily Lockman were named all-conference for the second straight year, while freshman MJ Knighten also earned a spot on the second team. Nebraska’s six honorees ranked second in the conference.

Tatum Edwards earned all-conference accolades for the fourth time in her career. Edwards led all Big Ten pitchers with 11 victories in league play, while she led all Big Ten hitters with 10 homers and 33 RBIs in conference action. Her 10 homers ranked second in Big Ten history, and her 33 RBIs ranked third. She played a large part in Nebraska winning 15 of its final 16 conference games to capture a share of the Big Ten title. Edwards went 9-1 with a 1.71 ERA over the final 16 conference games, while producing eight homers and 28 RBIs at the plate.

Taylor Edwards was the lone catcher on the All-Big Ten first team, as she earned all-conference accolades for the third time in her career. Edwards hit eight homers in league play, ranking second among all Big Ten hitters, trailing only her sister Tatum. Taylor is the Big Ten’s overall home run leader with 17 homers this spring.

Decker posted the Big Ten’s third-best batting average in conference play, hitting .443. She tied for the league lead with 35 hits in conference play, while ranking second with 27 runs and 61 total bases, fourth with six homers and 23 RBIs and fifth with eight doubles and a .772 slugging percentage.

Last season, Lockman was the first Husker freshman pitcher to be an all-conference selection since 2001. She was named to the second team again this spring after posting a 7-1 record with a 1.98 ERA and a league-high four shutouts in league play.

Armstrong battled through a back injury to hit .375 in conference action. She produced nine doubles in 23 Big Ten games, ranking second in the league in that category. Armstrong also owned the second-best fielding percentage (.941) of any shortstop nominated for All-Big Ten honors.

Knighten hit .364 in league play with one double, two triples, three homers and 19 RBIs. Her two triples ranked third among all Big Ten hitters. She is Nebraska’s first freshman third baseman to earn all-conference honors since Tobin Echo-Hawk in 1993.

Junior co-captain Mattie Fowler, who suffered a season-ending injury in the 11th game of the season, was recognized as Nebraska’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.

Tatum and Taylor Edwards also earned spots on the Big Ten All-Defensive team at pitcher and catcher, respectively.

Nebraska All-Big Ten Awards
First Team
Hailey Decker
Tatum Edwards
Taylor Edwards

Second Team
Alicia Armstrong
MJ Knighten
Emily Lockman

All-Defensive Team
Tatum Edwards, P
Taylor Edwards, C

Coach of the Year
Rhonda Revelle

Sportsmanship Award
Mattie Fowler