Huskers Face Cyclones in Home Opener

The Nebraska softball team will face Iowa State on Wednesday, March 22 for its home opener at Bowlin Stadium. The Huskers (19-9) will face the Cyclones (11-13) at 4 p.m. The game is a Red Out with Nebraska Softball t-shirts as a giveaway for fans while supplies last. 
 

Fans can listen to the game live on the Huskers Radio Network and Huskers.com with the call from Nate Rohr and Mattie Fowler Burkhardt. The game will also be streamed live on BTN+ (subscription required). 
 

Nebraska currently is in the top three in the Big Ten in numerous offensive categories including batting average (.326), runs (156), hits (245), doubles (54), home runs (31), slugging percentage (.549) and on base percentage (.433). 
 

Junior Billie Andrews leads the conference with 10 home runs and is in the top five in slugging percentage (.747) and hits (34). Freshman Katelyn Caneda leads the team with a .405 batting average. Caneda has added 30 hits including four doubles, one triple, two home runs and 21 RBI. 
 

In the circle, Courtney Wallace has been a leader through the first half of the season. Wallace (11-5) has appeared in the circle for 88.0 innings while tallying 56 strikeouts. Sarah Harness (7-3) has added 53.0 innings of work, striking out 60 batters. 

Nebraska By the Numbers

• The Huskers lead the Big Ten in shutouts with eight and are ranked 22nd in the NCAA. 
• NU has tallied a conference-best 54 doubles, a number that ranks fifth in the nation. 
• Nebraska is leading the Big Ten in batting average (.326) and is 19th in the NCAA. 
• Katelyn Caneda is sixth in the Big Ten with a .405 batting average, a mark that leads the Big Red. 
• Billie Andrews is first in the conference and eighth in the NCAA in home runs with 10 through the first half of the season. 
• Billie Andrews and Caitlynn Neal are first and second in the conference in extra-base hits. 
• Caitlynn Neal is second in the Big Ten with nine doubles. 
• Courtney Wallace has recorded the second-most wins in the conference with 11. She is also 12th in the NCAA.
• Wallace has recorded three shutout wins this season, a mark that is first in the Big Ten and 27th in the nation. 

Opponents By the Numbers 

• Iowa State holds a .242 batting average, which ranks seventh in the Big 12. 
• The Cyclones are seventh in their conference with a 3.59 ERA. 
• Nebraska and Iowa State share six opponents in common this season (Omaha, Arkansas, South Dakota State, Oklahoma State, Iowa and Kansas). 
• Mikayla Ramos leads the Cylone offense with a .319 batting average.
• Ramos has tallied a team-best 23 hits including four doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI.
• Carli Spelhaug has hit a team-best four home runs. The senior ha also added 14 hits and 14 runs. 
• Saya Swain holds a 3.39 and 3-4 record in the circle. The junior has made the most appearances in the circle for the Cyclones, pitching 41.1 innings. 
• Jaiden Ralston has added 38.1 innings of work in the circle. The freshman holds a 2.56 ERA and a 3-3 record. Ralston has also tallied 52 strikeouts through 16 appearances. 

Husker Quick Hits 

• Sarah Harness recorded her 500th career strikeout last weekend. The junior has  tallied 60 strikeouts this season and has combined for 500 including her three seasons at Southern Illinois. 
• Billie Andrews has tallied 10 home runs this season, she is now seventh all-time in Nebraska history in career homers with 37. 
• Andrews is one of 12 returning players in the NCAA who hit 20 or more home runs last season. 
• Sarah Harness recorded a no-hitter against New Mexico on Feb. 24, 2023. It marked the first no-hitter by a Nebraska pitcher since 2016. 
• Mya Felder is the only returning Big Ten player who received All-Big Ten, All-Defensive and All-Tournament honors in 2022. 
• Courtney Wallace is one of six returning Rawlings/NFCA Gold Glove recipients from last season.