Weekly Release #1Big Redl Feb. Tournament 5-12 l lHuskers March at16-18 the Paradise Classic Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 2007 Contact: Matt Smith E-Mail: [email protected] vs. North Dakota St. vs. Arkansas vs. North Dakota St. Office: (402) 472-7780 Cell: (402) 770-5926 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m. Date Opponent/Tournament Time/Result Record Feb. 8-11 Paradise Classic (Honolulu, Hawaii) Practice Feb. 8 vs. No. 24 Auburn W, 1-0 (8) 1-0 Feb. 8 at Hawaii L, 4-5 1-1 vs. Arkansas vs. North Dakota St. vs. Arkansas Feb. 9 vs. Portland State W, 1-0 2-1 Feb. 9 vs. DePaul W, 5-1 3-1 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Feb. 10 vs. Portland State L, 0-2 3-2 Feb. 11 vs. No. 24 Auburn W, 1-0 4-2 Feb. 11 at Hawaii L, 5-6 4-3 Huskers Host Home-Opening Tournament Feb. 23-25 NFCA Leadoff Classic (Columbus, Ga.) The Nebraska softball team will open the home portion of its schedule this weekend, welcoming Feb. 23 vs. Tennessee Tech L, 1-4 4-4 Arkansas and North Dakota State to Lincoln for the three-team, round-robin Big Red Tournament Feb. 23 vs. No. 20 Florida State L, 1-2 (9) 4-5 that runs from Friday through Sunday, March 16-18 at Bowlin Stadium. Feb. 24 vs. Seton Hall W, 4-3 5-5 NU (15-7) is scheduled to play six games this weekend. Each day of the tournament will Feb. 24 vs. Mississippi State W, 7-6 (9) 6-5 feature three games with one daily ticket providing fans admission for all of the day’s action. Feb. 25 vs. No. 18 Georgia W, 2-1 7-5 Tickets can be purchased on the day of the game at the ticket window located behind home plate. March 2-4 UNLV Invitational (Las Vegas, Nev.) March 2 vs. Southern Utah W, 5-2 8-5 Reserved tickets are $6, while general admission tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for children. March 3 vs. DePaul L, 0-2 8-6 Fans unable to make it to the ballpark this weekend can still follow all of the action live. All March 3 vs. Fresno State L, 2-3 8-7 six games will air on Huskers.com, with four contests set to air on select Husker Sports Network March 4 vs. Delaware State W, 2-1 9-7 stations in Nebraska, including the Huskers’ Friday 1:30 p.m. game with Arkansas, Saturday’s 11 March 5 vs. No. 18 California W, 5-2 (8) 10-7 a.m. tilt with the Lady Razorbacks and both of Sunday’s 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. contests. March 9-11 Shocker Invitational (Wichita, Kan.) Lane Grindle will make his radio debut for Nebraska softball this weekend, handling the March 9 vs. Minnesota W, 3-2 11-7 play-by-play duties for the radio contests. Nate Rohr will add color commentary for the radio March 9 vs. Western Illinois W, 4-1 12-7 March 10 vs. Western Illinois W, 7-3 13-7 broadcasts, and will call the action on the internet-only games. March 10 vs. Minnesota W, 4-2 14-7 After spending the first five weeks - and first 23 games - on the road, Nebraska is anxious to March 11 at Wichita State W, 4-1 15-7 step onto the Bowlin Stadium dirt. The Huskers have not played a home game this season and March 16-18 Big Red Tournament (Bowlin Stadium) weren’t scheduled to have their first practice at their home stadium - and first outdoor practice March 16 North Dakota State 11 a.m. in Lincoln - until Tuesday of this week. March 16 Arkansas^ 1:30 p.m. NU has won five of its six home openers since Bowlin Stadium opened in 2001. The Huskers March 17 Arkansas^ 11 a.m. have won seven of their last eight home openers overall, including last season when Nebraska March 17 North Dakota State 1:30 p.m. opened its home campaign with 11 consecutive victories. Overall, NU has won seven straight at March 18 North Dakota State^ 11 a.m. March 18 Arkansas^ 4 p.m. Bowlin Stadium and 20 of its last 21. March 21 Creighton^ 6 p.m. The Huskers hope to continue those streaks March 24 at Baylor* 2 p.m. Did You Know? and timing may be on their side, as they March 25 at Baylor* 1 p.m. wDespite a 1.43 team ERA, the Nebraska appear to be playing their best ball of the March 27 Drake (DH)^ 3:30 & 6 p.m. pitching staff has not thrown a shutout in its season. NU is coming off a perfect 5-0 weekend March 28 Colorado State (DH) 2 & 4 p.m. last 16 games after tossing three through its when Nebraska captured the tournament March 31 Texas Tech* 2 p.m. first six contests. The 16-game drought is the championship at the Shocker Invitational. April 1 Texas Tech* Noon April 4 at Kansas* 3 p.m. longest at NU in 10 years since the 1997 team Overall, the Huskers have won seven in a April 6 at Texas A&M* 6 p.m. went a stretch of 33 games between shutouts. row and 11 of their last 13. Nebraska excelled April 7 at Texas A&M* Noon In every season from 1998-2006, the Huskers last weekend, outscoring its opponents 22-9 April 9 South Dakota State (DH)^ 4 & 6 p.m. never went more than 13 games between at the Shocker Invitational, after outscoring its April 11 at Creighton 6 p.m. shutouts. first 17 opponents by a combined score of just April 14 Texas* 2 p.m. 45-39. April 15 Texas* Noon wNebraska has three hitters who have posted A big reason for the Huskers’ recent success April 17 Iowa State*^ 5 p.m. April 19 at Iowa State* 3:30 p.m. more walks than strikeouts this season is the emergence of the NU bats. After April 21 at Oklahoma* 2 p.m. and one more who has the same walk and stranding 135 runners on base through the April 22 at Oklahoma* Noon strikeout total. Combined these four hitters - first 17 games, Nebraska left just 26 runners April 25 Kansas*^ 6:30 p.m. all sophomores - have drawn 28 walks, while on in five games in Wichita. April 28 Oklahoma State* 2 p.m. striking out just 18 times. The long ball also re-emerged last weekend April 29 Oklahoma State* 1 p.m. for Nebraska as four players hit their first May 5 at Missouri* 2 p.m. wNebraska has played in 12 one-run games home run of the season and NU hit more home May 6 at Missouri* 1 p.m. through its first 22 contests this season, runs in five games last weekend (four) than it May 10-12 Big 12 Championship TBA May 18-20 NCAA Regional TBA exceeding last year’s total from 56 games. The had in its first 17 contests (three). May 25-27 NCAA Super Regional TBA Huskers are 8-4 in games decided by one run May 31-June 6 WCWS TBA in 2007 after posting a 9-2 record in 2006. *Big 12 Conference game ^Game broadcast on the Husker Sports Network. Weekly Notes #5 s March 14 Page 2 Nebraska Quick Facts Scouting North Dakota State Head Coach...... Rhonda Revelle North Dakota State is 14-7 on the season after posting a 2-3 record Tale of the Tape Alma Mater...... Nebraska, 1984 at the Kansas Jayhawk Invitational last weekend. The Bison split a Nebraska...... Category...... NDSU Overall Record (years)...... 576-298 (16 years) pair of games with KU in Lawrence and have lost seven of their last 10 15-7...... Record...... 14-7 Overall Winning Percentage...... 659 after opening the season with an 11-1 record. .256...... Average...... 266 Record at NU (years)...... 568-282 (15 years) NDSU is led by a solid offense and defense. The Bison are averaging 7...... Home Runs...... 10 Nebraska Winning Percentage...... 668 more than four runs per game, while the pitching staff boasts an ERA 32...... Stolen Bases...... 16 Associate Coach...... Lori Sippel of 2.16. 3.0...... Runs Per Game...... 4.1 Alma Mater...... Nebraska, 1988 Offensively, Melissa Chmielews leads the team with a .328 average, 2.2...... Runs Allowed Per Game.....2.9 Season at Nebraska...... 18th Year 22 RBIs, a .534 slugging percentage and a .420 on-base percentage. 1.43...... ERA...... 2.16 Assistant Coach...... Jennifer Ogee Jennifer Morse is right behind her with a .326 average and Kelly 3...... Shutouts...... 6 Alma Mater...... Washington, 1997 Cantrell leads the team with three home runs. 8.3...... Strikeouts Per Game...... 6.1 Season at Nebraska...... Sixth Year In the circle, Allison Bakke is off to a phenomenal start, posting a .202...... Opponent Avg...... 232 Facility/Capacity...... Bowlin Stadium/2,500 9-3 record with a microscopic 0.92 ERA. In 84.0 innings, Bakke has .965...... Fielding Pct...... 963 2006 Overall Record...... 44-12 surrendered just 11 earned runs on only 57 hits. Opponents are hitting 2006 Big 12 Record...... 13-4 (2nd) just .187 against her, while she is averaging more than one strikeout Letterwinners Returning/Lost...... 11/5 per inning. Bekki Rasmussen (3-2, 2.62 ERA) and Andi Padilla (2-2, 6.44) have also seen action in the circle this Position Starters Returning/Lost...... 5/4 season for the Bison. Returning/Lost...... 3/0 Nebraska leads the all-time series with North Dakota State, 7-0. The Huskers have never lost to the Bison and First Year of Softball...... 1976 NDSU has not scored a run against the Big Red since 1980, although the teams have only met three times since All-Time Record...... 1,050-580 (.644) then. Last year, Nebraska run-ruled North Dakota State, 8-0 in five innings, at the Big Red Tournament. All-Time Record (NCAA Era Only)...... 921-474 (.660) All-Time Conference Record...... 238-158 (.601) Scouting Arkansas Tale of the Tape Big 12 Conference Record...... 134-55 (.709) Arkansas is just 10-17 on the season after being swept at home by Overall Conference Titles...... 12 Nebraska...... Category...... Arkansas South Carolina in the opening weekend of Southeastern Conference 15-7...... Record...... 10-17 Overall Big Eight Conference Titles...... 6 play. The Lady Razorbacks are no stranger to Big 12 competition this Overall Big 12 Conference Titles...... 6 .256...... Average...... 244 season, as Arkansas is 0-6 against the Big 12, losing twice to Texas 7...... Home Runs...... 12 Big 12 Regular-Season Titles...... 3 A&M, Missouri and Oklahoma by a combined score of 57-17. Big 12 Championship Titles...... 3 32...... Stolen Bases...... 32 Despite the SEC’s reputation as one of the top softball conferences, 3.0...... Runs Per Game...... 3.4 NCAA Tournament Appearances...... 17 Nebraska is 4-0 against the league this season, including three NCAA Tournament Record...... 51-37 (.580) 2.2...... Runs Allowed Per Game.....4.4 victories over ranked SEC foes. 1.43...... ERA...... 3.49 NCAA Regional Record...... 40-23 (.635) Arkansas and Nebraska share one common opponent this season s College World Series Appearances...... 7 3...... Shutouts...... 4 in Wichita State. The Razorbacks fell to the Shockers at home, 3-1, on 8.3...... Strikeouts Per Game...... 6.6 College World Series Record...... 11-14 (.440) Feb. 23 and Nebraska beat WSU on the road, 4-1, last Sunday. Honda Broderick Award Winners...... 1 .202...... Opponent Avg...... 267 Arkansas is hitting just .244 as a team, but the Lady Razorbacks .965...... Fielding Pct...... 951 Honda Broderick Award Nominees...... 3 are averaging 3.4 runs per game. Jessica Bachkora leads the team Total All-Americans...... 20 with a .369 average, while Miranda Dixon (.329) and Dayna Huckabee First-Team All-Americans...... 6 (.317) are also hitting above .300. Huckabee also ranks as Arkansas’ top slugger, leading the team with four home Second-Team All-Americans...... 11 runs, 17 RBIs and a .549 slugging percentage. The Lady Razorbacks also boast plenty of speed, as they have stolen Third-Team All-Americans...... 3 32 bases in 37 tries. Total Academic All-Americans...... 24 In the circle, no has an ERA below 3.00 and the staff has a collective 3.49 ERA. Katy Henry has thrown First-Team Academic All-Americans...... 6 twice as many innings as any of the Lady Razorbacks’ other two pitchers, compiling a 7-7 record with a staff-low Second-Team Academic All-Americans...... 8 3.18 ERA. In 101.1 innings, Henry has struck out 118, but has been hurt by the long ball as teams have hit 17 Third-Team Academic All-Americans...... 7 home runs against her en route to producing 63 runs (46 earned). Miranda Dixon is just 1-9 with a 3.71 ERA, while Honorable Mention Academic All-Americans...... 3 Teighynne Hulse is 2-12 despite a 4.31 ERA. Student-Athletes Who Have Earned Degrees...... 100 Friday’s contest will mark the first-ever meeting between Arkansas and Nebraska. 2007 Nebraska Cornhuskers Numerical Roster No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. B/T Hometown (Previous School) 2007 Highlights 1 Meghan Mullin OF 5-4 So. L/L Mesa, Ariz. (Seton Catholic) leads the team with a .368 average and nine stolen bases 2 Devin Porter INF 5-5 Sr. R/R Lakewood, Calif. (Lakewood) leads the team with two home runs and ranks second with 21 hits 3 Ashley DeBuhr RHP 5-6 Sr. R/R Beatrice, Neb. (Beatrice) is 8-3 with a 1.53 ERA, but is 3-1 with a 0.45 ERA against ranked foes 4 Haley Long OF 5-5 So. L/R Brenham, Texas (Blinn College) has only struck out twice in 62 plate appearances 7 Carmen Kier INF 5-6 Sr. R/R Renton, Wash. (Liberty) has started every game at third base 11 Crystal Carwile INF 5-4 So. L/L Chino, Calif. (Don Antonio Lugo) leads the team with five doubles, one triple and 10 RBIs 12 Kimberly Fuller INF 5-3 So. R/R Honolulu, Hawaii (Roosevelt) career-high 10 starts; three of her six hits have gone for extra bases 13 Molly Hill RHP 5-8 So. R/R Wayne, Neb. (Wayne) team-low 1.15 ERA and has struck out 75 in only 61.0 innings 17 Darcy Rutherford OF 5-9 So. L/R Omaha, Neb. (Omaha Central) 13 starts after being primarily a pinch-runner in 2006 20 Whitney Barrett INF 5-5 Fr. R/R Wetumpka, Ala. (Wetumpka) has started 13 games at second base 22 Jamie Waldecker C 5-8 Sr. R/R Garden Grove, Calif. (Pacifica) out at least one more week with a broken hand 23 Crystal Gonzalez OF 5-2 Fr. L/R Pomona, Calif. (Diamond Bar) has been stellar defensively and is hitting .268 25 Alex Hupp RHP 5-6 Fr. R/R Olathe, Kan. (Olathe East) threw a one-hit shutout in her first career start 33 Jaime Borg OF 5-9 Sr. R/R Lincoln, Neb. (Waverly) 0-for-2 but has scored three runs 34 Brittany Pascale C 5-4 So. R/R Frankfort, Ill. (Lincoln Way East) has drawn a team-high 13 walks to post a .443 on-base percentage Weekly Notes #5 s March 14 Page 3 Clutch Hits Finally Come USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll (March 14) Nebraska enjoyed its best offensive production of the season last weekend in Wichita. The Huskers produced Rk. Team Record Pts. LW 22 runs in five games after scoring just 45 runs in their first 17 games. Below is a look at the offensive per-game 1. Tennessee (27) 24-1 747 1 2. Arizona State (2) 27-2 71 3 averages from its first 17 contests compared to its five games last weekend. 3. Texas A&M* 21-2 663 t-4 Category Avg. AB R H 2B HR RBI SO BB SB SLG% OB% FLD% 4. Alabama (1) 24-0 660 t-4 First 17 Games .254 26.4 2.6 6.7 0.9 0.2 2.2 6.2 3.1 1.5 .314 .348 .966 5. Arizona 17-5 650 2 Last Weekend .263 26.6 4.4 7.0 1.2 0.8 3.4 3.6 1.8 1.4 .398 .317 .965 6. Oklahoma* 28-1 608 6 7. Northwestern 15-5 550 7 As the numbers show, despite a significant drop in on-base percentage and just a slight rise in hits per game, 8. Texas* 20-3 532 8 Nebraska was able to score nearly two more runs per game. Even with fewer base runners and fewer scoring 9. Michigan 20-1 524 9 chances, the addition of a few timely hits made all the difference for a Husker offense that had been on the verge 10. LSU 24-4 443 10 of big performances all season. 11. UCLA 21-6 434 12 NU had been leaving an average of nearly eight runners on base per game prior to last weekend, but at the 12. Washington 18-4 412 11 Shocker Invitational, the Huskers stranded an average of just over five. Nebraska hit .292 (19-for-65) with runners 13. Stanford 21-5 397 13 14. Baylor* 24-5 387 16 on base last weekend and .304 (14-for-46) with runners in scoring position. In its first 17 games, the Huskers hit 15. Oregon State 15-9 284 14 just .245 (57-for-233) with runners on and only .250 (41-for-164) with runners in scoring position. 16. Oregon 24-3 278 17 NU’s timely hits meant the Huskers were able to produce nearly two more runs per game despite averaging one 17. Louisiana-Lafayette 24-6 244 15 fewer at bat per game with both runners on base and runners in scoring position. 18. Georgia* 22-8 195 21 In addition to timely hitting, Nebraska also produced more extra-base hits, including four home runs, two of 19. Florida 19-10 191 19 which came with runners on base. Prior to last weekend, Nebraska had homered just three times in its first 17 20. Southern Illinois 18-5 168 18 games and each homer had been a solo blast. 21. Illinois State 19-5 149 22 22. Georgia Tech 25-5 125 20 23. Hawaii* 23-5 95 NR Carwile’s Power on Display Again 24. Florida State* 18-8 53 25 Sophomore Crystal Carwile found the groove that made her a first-team all-region selection last weekend at the 25. California* 18-10 46 23 Shocker Invitational. Carwile hit .375 on the weekend and posted a whopping .688 slugging percentage, hitting *2007 Husker opponent two doubles and a home run while producing six RBIs in five games after totaling four RBIs through her first 17 contests. USA Softball/ESPN.com Poll (March 13) Carwile, who belted 12 home runs as a freshman - one shy of the NU rookie record - hit her first homer of the Rk. Team Record Pts. LW season last Sunday against Wichita State. The home run came in her 22nd game. Last year it took Carwile only 1. Tennessee (12) 24-1 490 1 2. Alabama (8) 24-0 480 3 three games to record her first roundtripper and she had five homers through her first eight games. 3. Texas A&M* 21-2 453 4 Carwile’s home runs have come in streaks as she had a late-season surge of five homers in five games last 4. Arizona State 27-2 428 6 s season in addition to her early-season barrage. NU hopes Carwile is on the verge of another home run flurry. It 5. Arizona 17-5 414 2 appears she might be as she had a second home run drift just feet foul against the Shockers. 6. Oklahoma* 28-1 404 5 7. Michigan 20-1 390 7 8. Texas* 20-3 363 8 Huskers and the Home Run 9. Northwestern 15-5 308 t-10 Fueled by the first career home runs from sophomore Kimberly Fuller and freshman Alex Hupp, Nebraska belted 10. Baylor* 24-5 307 14 four roundtrippers in five games last weekend after hitting just three in its first 17 games of the season. 11. Stanford 21-5 287 12 In addition to Fuller and Hupp, senior Ashley DeBuhr and sophomore Crystal Carwile recorded their first blasts 12. LSU 24-4 285 9 of the season. Hupp and DeBuhr also teamed up to hit NU’s first back-to-back home runs of the season while also 13. Washington 18-4 281 t-10 14. Oregon 24-3 230 15 producing Nebraska’s lone multi-homer game. 15. UCLA 21-6 220 16 16. Louisiana-Lafayette 24-6 181 13 Huskers Hope For Continued Home Success 17. Illinois State 19-5 180 18 When the Huskers face North Dakota State on Friday morning, Nebraska will not only open the home portion of 18. Georgia Tech 25-5 115 19 its schedule, but will also be looking to continue its recent success at Bowlin Stadium. 19. Georgia* 22-8 104 23 20. Oregon State 15-9 101 17 In 2006, Nebraska opened its home campaign with 11 consecutive victories before finishing the home slate with 21. DePaul* 12-5 96 21 a 20-1 record, tying the school record for most home wins in a season while also finishing with the second-best 22. Florida 19-10 81 24 winning percentage. Overall, NU has won seven straight at Bowlin Stadium and 20 of its last 21. 23. Southern Illinois 18-5 75 20 24. South Carolina 23-3 50 NR Oh, So Close 25. Hawaii* 22-5 49 NR *2007 Husker opponent While Nebraska has posted a solid 15-7 record against a tough schedule that has featured 10 games against opponents that have appeared in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll at least once this season, the Huskers have Week-by-Week Ranking come very close to posting an outstanding record. Date NFCA ESPN Record NU has lost four one-run games and the Huskers have dropped four contests when they led after the third Preseason 15th 15th 0-0 inning, matching the entire 2006 total. NU has led in 19 of its 22 games this season. Feb. 13 19th 20th 4-3 Feb. 20 21st 21st 4-3 Stealing the Show Feb. 27 23rd NR 7-5 March 6 NR NR 10-7 Nebraska has traditionally been known for its speed and after stealing just five bases in nine attempts at the March 13 NR NR 15-7 season-opening Paradise Classic, the Husker speed has returned. In five games at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, Feb. 23-25, NU was successful on 8-of-8 stolen-base attempts. Last week at the UNLV Invitational, Nebraska swiped 12 bases in 13 tries. After stealing 5-of-9 bases the opening weekend, Nebraska went 20-of-21 over its next 10 games and is 32-of- 40 (80 percent) on the season. For comparison’s sake, the players on the 2007 roster were a combined 14-of-24 on stolen bases in their career prior to this season. Weekly Notes #5 s March 14 Page 4 Nebraska Head Coach Rhonda Revelle A Look at the Expected Lineup 15th Season at Nebraska 1. Darcy Rutherford, LF (13 starts, .343, 0 HR, 2 RBIs) 568-282 (.668) record at NU Rutherford is arguably the Huskers’ most improved player. Primarily a pinch runner in 2006, when she appeared in 576-298 (.659) career record 25 games and scored four runs, Rutherford went 2-for-4 in the first weekend to post her first career hits. After not 6 Big 12 Titles recording a hit last season, she is 12-for-35 this year, recorded her first RBI and walk and has stolen six bases. 2 WCWS Teams 2. Meghan Mullin, RF (22 starts, .368, 0 HR, 5 RBIs) 14 All-Americans Mullin saw limited action as a freshman in 2006, but showed good patience and bat control in the box. As a regular 17 Academic All-Americans starter this season, Mullin has already surpassed her freshman totals in nearly every category and she leads the Honors and Awards team with 25 hits, a .368 average, nine stolen bases and three game-winning RBIs. 2002 Midwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year 3. Devin Porter, SS (22 starts, .292, 2 HR, 8 RBIs) 2001 Big 12 Coach of the Year Porter has made great progress as a player through her first three seasons in the Husker program. She has been 1998 Big 12 Coach of the Year named the Huskers’ Most Improved Player in each of the last two years and enjoyed her best season in 2006, when 1998 NFCA Midwest Coaching Staff of the Year she earned second-team All-Big 12 honors after leading the Huskers with a .360 average in league play. 1997 Nebraska Softball Hall of Fame Inductee 4. Crystal Carwile, 1B (22 starts, .282, 1 HR, 10 RBIs) 1995 Big Eight Coach of the Year Carwile burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2006, homering three times in her first weekend en route to finishing 1995 Midwest Region Coach of the Year with 12 home runs, one shy of the NU freshman record. Carwile began the 2007 season slowly after missing the offseason with shoulder surgery, but has begun to emerge and leads the team with 10 RBIs. Coaching Stops 5. Brittany Pascale, C (20 starts, .291, 0 HR, 4 RBIs) Head Coach Pascale showed continued improvement throughout 2006 and emerged as one of NU’s most clutch hitters. Pascale 1993-present ...... Nebraska had three seventh-inning, pinch-hit at bats that resulted in her producing the game-tying run. In 2007, she has 1987 ...... Nebraska Wesleyan drawn a team-high 13 walks and has filled in at for the injured Jamie Waldecker. Assistant Coach 6. Ashley DeBuhr, RHP (10 starts, 8-3, 1.53 ERA, 95 Ks, 77.2 IP; .200, 1 HR, 4 RBIs) 1988-92 ...... San Jose State DeBuhr continued to be more dominant in the circle, following her second-team All-Big 12 and All-Midwest honors 1987-88 ...... Cal State-Hayward from 2005 with first-team selections in 2006. One of 50 players named to the 2007 USA Softball Preseason Player 1986 ...... Nebraska Wesleyan of the Year Watch List, she leads the team with two shutouts and has four starts against ranked teams. 7. Alex Hupp, RHP/DP (4 starts, 2-0, 1.98 ERA, 12 Ks, 17.2 IP; 12 starts, .121, 1 HR, 4 RBIs) Coaching Ledger A two-time NFCA High School All-American, Hupp is a solid pitcher who can also hit. She tossed a one-hit shutout Head Coach (1987, 1993-present at Nebraska) in her first career start and boasts an ERA under 2.00. Her offense has continued to improve, as she hit .286 with Year Record Conf. Place Tourn. a double, a homer and an RBI in five games at the Shocker Invitational last weekend. 1987# 8-16 N/A N/A N/A 8. Kimberly Fuller, INF (10 starts, .214, 1 HR, 6 RBIs) 1993 18-23 5-11* 5th N/A In limited action in 2006, Fuller went 2-for-11, but drew three walks to post a .357 on-base percentage. She is 1994 25-33 5-15* 6th N/A currently engaged in an ongoing battle with Whitney Barrett for the starting job at second. Fuller has emerged of 1995 43-20 10-6* 3rd N/A s 1996 42-23 10-8^ 4th 2nd late, starting the last six games at second and hitting .238 with a homer and six RBIs in the month of March. 1997 29-24 10-6^ 4th 5th 9. Crystal Gonzalez, CF (8 starts, .231, 0 HR, 0 RBIs) 1998 48-12 16-0^ 1st 1st Labeled as “probably the best defensive prospect in Southern California” by the Los Angeles Times, Gonzalez is 1999 35-21 10-8^ 4th 2nd perfect in the field this season and has shown great range and a strong arm. One of the fastest players on the 2000 52-21 15-2^ 2nd 1st team, the slapper has recorded 11 hits this season and has also added four stolen bases in four tries. 2001 51-15 16-2^ 1st 5th 10. Carmen Kier, 3B (22 starts, .125, 0 HR, 3 RBIs) 2002 50-14 11-5^ 3rd 2nd Kier is in her second season as the everyday starter at third after belting a career-high five homers and driving in a 2003 39-17 10-8^ 6th 4th career-high 19 in 2006. Known as a patient hitter, Kier has drawn 44 career walks, including six this season to rank 2004 45-17 14-3^ 1st 1st 2005 36-23 9-9 7th 5th second on the team. She also boasts power as nearly 30 percent of her career hits have gone for extra bases. 2006 44-12 13-4 2nd 4th 2007 15-7 0-0 -- -- Whitney Barrett, INF (13 starts, .115, 0 HR, 1 RBI) Totals 576-298 154-87 -- -- Just a freshman, Barrett has already earned 13 starts at second base through the first 22 games of the season. #Nebraska Wesleyan, *Big Eight, ^Big 12 Despite being bothered by an eye problem that has limited her vision, Barrett has appeared in all but one game. Jaime Borg, OF (1 start, .000, 0 HR, 0 RBIs) Revelle vs. the Big 12 Borg moves back to the outfield after being the Huskers’ No. 3 pitcher in each of the past two seasons. She Opponent Record Revelle vs. Counterpart* recorded her first career hit and stolen base last season and added a career-high 10 runs and two walks. Baylor 20-3 11-3 Haley Long, DP (18 starts, .268, 0 HR, 6 RBIs) Iowa State 31-8 1-1 Long was a late find for the Huskers as she was brought in this past summer to add depth to the outfield. She got Kansas 26-22 21-10 off to a hot start, but has slowed lately. Still ranks second on the team with four doubles. Missouri 23-16 0-0 Jamie Waldecker, C (9 starts, .200, 1 HR, 1 RBI) Oklahoma 18-17 18-16 Oklahoma State 19-24 0-0 A clutch hitter with power, Waldecker is also one of the best defensive in the Big 12 Conference. A broken Texas 14-12 14-12 hand suffered Feb. 23 will keep her out of the lineup for another few weeks. Texas A&M 18-11 18-10 Molly Hill, RHP (8 starts, 5-4, 1.15 ERA, 75 Ks, 61.0 IP) Texas Tech 22-3 5-0 Hill is the Huskers’ No. 2 pitcher and is expected to make a few starts this weekend. As a freshman, Hill went 18-2 *only includes games at each coach’s current school to establish a school record with a .900 winning percentage. She is a hard-luck 5-4 this year with a 1.15 ERA.

Winningest Coaches in NU History (all sports by wins) 1. John Sanders, Baseball, 767-453-1; 20 years Let’s Play Extras 2. Terry Pettit, Volleyball, 694-149-11; 23 years After going to extra innings just five times in 56 games a year ago, Nebraska had already played four extra- 3. Rhonda Revelle, Softball, 568-282; 15 years* inning contests through the first 17 games of the 2007 season. The Huskers were a perfect 5-0 in extra innings 4. Tony Sharpe, Baseball; 394-338-3; 31 years last season and are 3-1 this season after defeating No. 18 California, 5-2, in nine innings on March 4. 5. Tom Osborne, Football; 255-49-3; 25 years Nebraska had won eight consecutive extra-inning affairs before falling to No. 20 Florida State on Feb. 23 and *active has won two straight since that setback. Weekly Notes #5 s March 14 Page 5 A big part of the reason for Nebraska’s success in extra-innings - especially this season - has been the work of Big 12 Conference Standings (games through 3/13) the pitching staff. The Husker hurlers have thrown a total of six extra frames this season, with each inning subject Rk. Team Big 12 Overall to the international tie-breaker rule, where a runner is automatically placed on second to start the inning. In those 1. Oklahoma...... 0-0...... 28-1-0 six innings, the NU staff has allowed the runner placed on second to score only once. 2. Texas A&M...... 0-0...... 21-2-0 3. Texas...... 0-0...... 21-3-0 4. Baylor...... 0-0...... 24-5-0 Nebraska vs. Ranked Teams 5. Kansas...... 0-0...... 17-7-1 Nebraska has played a challenging schedule thus far in 2007 and the Huskers have responded against the best 6. Nebraska...... 0-0...... 15-7-0 competition, posting a 4-1 record against ranked teams, while going just 11-6 against foes outside of the top 25. 7. Missouri...... 0-0...... 17-13-0 Four of the five games - and three of the four wins - have been decided by one run, with the game coming down to 8. Texas Tech...... 0-0...... 14-12-0 the winning teams’ last at bat. 9. Oklahoma State...... 0-0...... 15-15-0 Three of the five contests have gone extra-innings, including a 2-1 nine-inning loss to No. 20 Florida State that 10. Iowa State...... 0-0...... 10-18-0 stands as NU’s lone loss to a ranked foe. Nebraska has had a lead in each of the five games and the Huskers have produced the game-winning run in the seventh inning once and in the eighth inning twice. Big 12 Player of the Week The Huskers have outscored their top-25 opponents 10-5 in the five games after defeating No. 18 California, 5-2 Date Player School Pos. in eight innings on March 4 in the final game of the UNLV Invitational. Feb. 13 Megan Gibson* TAMU P/1B Offensively, NU has been better than its ranked counterparts, but runners-left-on-base has kept each of the Feb. 20 Ashley Monceaux BU 1B games close. Below is a comparison of NU’s per-game averages against ranked and non-ranked teams. Feb. 28 Mariee Mena*^ OU INF Category Avg. AB R H 2B HR RBI SO BB SB SLG% OB% FLD% March 6 Megan Gibson TAMU P/1B vs. Ranked .253 29.2 2.0 7.4 0.8 0.2 1.6 5.2 1.4 0.6 .301 .321 .981 March 13 Alex Colyer^ BU INF vs. Non-Ranked .254 25.3 2.9 6.4 1.0 0.1 2.4 1.3 3.4 1.8 .320 .361 .959 *NFCA National Player of the Week ^USA Softball National Player of the Week Husker Hurlers Excelling Against Ranked Teams Big 12 Pitcher of the Week While Nebraska is 4-1 against ranked teams, the pitching staff has been especially stellar against ranked Date Player School Pos. competition, compiling a 0.37 ERA. Senior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr and sophomore right-hander Molly Hill have Feb. 13 Amanda Scarborough^ TAMU RHP combined to allow just two earned runs in 38.1 innings, as they have thrown two shutouts in five games, while not Feb. 20 Meagan Denny UT RHP allowing an earned run in two other contests. In fact, the staff has not surrendered an earned run to a ranked team Feb. 28 Megan Gibson TAMU RHP through the first seven innings in any of the five games this season and no ranked team has recorded more than March 6 Lauren Eckermann OU RHP four hits in a game, despite receiving additional at bats with three extra-inning affairs. March 13 Lisa Ferguson* BU RHP In the lone loss to the No. 24 Florida State, DeBuhr was two outs away from tossing her third straight two-hit *NFCA National Player of the Week shutout against a ranked foe. Before giving up back-to-back ninth-inning homers to FSU, DeBuhr had thrown ^USA Softball National Player of the Week 23.1 scoreless innings against top-25 opponents, including two international tie-breaker frames where a runner s was placed on second to begin the inning. She had also allowed just six hits in those 23 innings. DeBuhr is now Nebraska All-Big 12 Athletic Honorees 3-1 with a 0.45 ERA against ranked teams this season. A native of Beatrice, Neb., DeBuhr has stymied opposing Crystal Carwile hitters, holding them to a meager .122 average while striking out 38. Second-Team All-Big 12 (2006) Hill matched DeBuhr in her lone start against a top-25 team, tossing a three-hitter and not allowing an earned run against 18th-ranked Georgia. She was tagged for just one unearned run while striking out six. Ashley DeBuhr Below is a comparison of NU’s per-game pitching averages against ranked and non-ranked teams: First-Team All-Big 12 (2006) Cateogry IP AB H R ER BB SO BF ERA Second-Team All-Big 12 (2005) vs. Ranked 7.2 24.0 2.7 0.9 0.4 1.8 8.0 25.0 0.37 Two-Time Big 12 Pitcher of the Week vs. Non-Ranked 6.9 25.9 6.2 2.9 2.0 2.7 7.9 30.6 2.02 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team (2006)

Sophomores Stepping Up Devin Porter While it’s not unusual for players to show great improvement from their freshmen to sophomore seasons, the Second-Team All-Big 12 (2006) statistical improvement of this year’s sophomore class has been remarkable, especially considering where they rank on the team and how little the majority of the class played as freshmen. Jamie Waldecker Slappers Meghan Mullin and Darcy Rutherford lead the team in batting average and entering the Shocker Second-Team All-Big 12 (2004 & 2006) Invitational last weekend, sophomores had claimed all five of the top batting averages on the team. Currently, the six sophomores who hit for the Huskers all rank in the top eight on the batting average chart. Big 12 Team Leaders In addition to Mullin and Rutherford, Brittany Pascale (.291), Crystal Carwile (.282), Haley Long (.268) have all Team Average Rk. School Games Avg. posted totals higher than the team’s collective .256 batting average. Those five are hitting a combined .309 while 1. Oklahoma 29 .357 the entire sophomore class has posted an impressive .300 average. 2. Baylor 29 .337 To put these totals in perspective, the sophomore class is hitting 94-for-313 in 22 games this season after 3. Texas A&M 23 .312 going a combined 72-for-284 (.254) as freshmen in 2006. The chart below shows the impact the sophomores have 4. Texas 24 .301 had on NU’s 2007 lineup: 5. Missouri 30 .296 Category Team Total Sophomore Total % of Team Total Comparison to Freshmen Total -- At Bats 582 313 46% 110% (313-to-284) 8. Nebraska 17 .256 Hits 149 94 63% 131% (94-to-72) Runs 67 41 61% 71% (41-to-58) Team ERA RBIs 54 33 61% 61% (33-to-54) Rk. School Games ERA Extra-Base Hits 30 18 60% 72% (18-to-25) 1. Oklahoma 29 1.22 Walks 62 36 58% 106% (36-to-34) 2. Texas 24 1.24 Stolen Bases 32 20 63% 500% (20-to-4) 3. Nebraska 22 1.43 Average .256 .300 N/A +.046 (.300-to-.254) 4. Texas A&M 23 1.70 5. Baylor 29 1.83 On-Base Percentage .341 .387 N/A +.039 (.387-to-.348) Weekly Notes #5 s March 14 Page 6 The Last Time Nebraska ... The impact of the sophomore class is also felt in the circle, where Molly Hill is 5-4 with a team-low 1.15 ERA. Scored 10 or more runs: Opponents are hitting just .180 against Hill, a number that leads the Big 12 Conference. Hill also leads the team ...... at Texas Tech (10-4 [10]), 4/23/06 with an average of 8.6 strikeouts per seven innings, a total that ranks second in the league. Scored 15 or more runs: Below is a look at how each of NU’s six returning sophomores have fared this season compared to their freshmen ...... vs. Illinois (21-1), 2/24/06 campaigns of 2006: Scored 20 or more runs: Crystal Carwile ...... vs. Illinois (21-1 [6]), 2/24/06 Year Avg. G-GS AB R H 2B HR RBI SO BB SB SLG% OB% FLD% Allowed 10 or more runs: 2006 .273 56-56 172 37 47 10 12 42 43 12 1 .541 .333 .994 ...... vs. UCLA (1-10), 2/13/04 2007 .282 22-22 71 12 20 5 1 10 13 5 3 .423 .342 .981 Allowed 15 or more runs: Kimberly Fuller ...... vs. Iowa (1-15), 3/22/97 Year Avg. G-GS AB R H 2B HR RBI SO BB SB SLG% OB% FLD% Recorded 15 or more hits: 2006 .182 8-2 11 2 2 0 0 2 2 3 0 .182 .357 1.000 ...... vs. Illinois (16), 2/24/06 2007 .214 13-10 28 2 6 2 1 6 6 3 0 .393 .290 .944 Recorded 20 or more hits: Meghan Mullin ...... vs. UMKC (21), 4/11/96 Year Avg. G-GS AB R H 2B HR RBI SO BB SB SLG% OB% FLD% Hit six or more doubles: 2006 .250 38-12 24 11 6 0 0 2 1 7 2 .250 .438 1.000 ...... vs. UMKC (6), 4/11/96 2007 .368 22-22 68 7 25 0 0 5 6 6 9 .368 .427 .944 Hit four or more home runs: Brittany Pascale ...... vs. Illinois (4), 2/24/06 Year Avg. G-GS AB R H 2B HR RBI SO BB SB SLG% OB% FLD% Hit two or more triples: 2006 .230 37-27 74 4 17 2 1 8 18 12 0 .297 .344 1.000 ...... vs. Northern Colorado (2), 4/14/06 2007 .291 22-20 55 3 16 3 0 4 8 13 0 .345 .443 .993 Stole five or more bases: Darcy Rutherford ...... vs. Southern Utah (6), 3/2/07 Year Avg. G-GS AB R H 2B HR RBI SO BB SB SLG% OB% FLD% Drew 10 or more walks: 2006 .000 25-1 3 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 .000 .000 .000 ...... at Creighton (11), 3/22/00 2007 .343 15-13 35 9 12 1 0 2 2 5 6 .368 .427 .857 Pitched a no-hitter: Molly Hill ...... vs. Kansas, 4/26/06 (DeBuhr) Year G-GS CG W-L SV SHO IP H R ER BB SO Opp. Avg. ERA Pitched 15 or more strikeouts: 2006 30-24 14 18-2 0 3 145.1 116 50 38 45 172 .214 1.83 ...... vs. No. 24 Auburn, 2/11/07 (DeBuhr, 17) 2007 12-8 6 5-4 1 0 61.0 39 18 10 28 75 .180 1.15 Defeated a top-five team: ...... vs. No. 4 Florida State, 3/18/04 Lost to an unranked opponent: ...... vs. Fresno State, 3/3/07 s

Nebraska’s 2007 Record When..... Game-Winning RBI Chart Overall...... 15-7 At home...... 0-0 Crystal Carwile, So., INF At neutral sites...... 14-5 Date Opponent Hit Inning Final Score Feb. 25...... No. 18 California...... RBI Single...... Top 8th...... 5-2 (8) On the road...... 1-2 March 9...... Minnesota...... RBI Single...... Top 6th...... 3-2 Big 12 (regular season)...... 0-0 March 10...... at Wichita State...... Two-Run Home Run...... Top 1st...... 4-1 Big 12 (non-conference, postseason)...... 0-0 Against ranked teams...... 4-1 Ashley DeBuhr, Sr., RHP Night games...... 2-1 Date Opponent Hit Inning Final Score Day games...... 13-6 Feb. 11...... No. 18 Auburn...... Sacrifice Fly...... Top 2nd...... 1-0 On Sunday...... 5-1 On Monday...... 0-0 Kimbie Fuller, So., INF On Tuesday...... 0-0 Date Opponent Hit Inning Final Score On Wednesday...... 0-0 March 2...... Southern Utah...... RBI Single...... Top 3rd...... 5-2 On Thursday...... 1-1 March 9...... Western Illinois...... 3-Run Home Run...... Bottom 2nd...... 4-1 On Friday...... 5-2 On Saturday...... 4-3 Alex Hupp, Fr., RHP/DP Had fewer than 5 hits...... 2-2 Date Opponent Hit Inning Final Score Had 5 hits or more...... 13-5 Feb. 24...... Seton Hall...... Sacrifice Fly...... Bottom 3rd...... 4-3 Had 10 hits or more...... 2-1 Out-hit opponent...... 10-4 Haley Long, So., OF Out-hit by opponent...... 4-2 Date Opponent Hit Inning Final Score Scored fewer than 4 runs...... 6-5 Feb. 9...... DePaul...... 3-Run Triple...... Bottom 3rd...... 5-1 Scored 4 or more runs...... 9-2 Scored 5 or more runs...... 5-1 Meghan Mullin, So., OF Scored 10 or more runs...... 0-0 Date Opponent Hit Inning Final Score Scored in the first inning...... 5-1 Feb. 8...... No. 18 Auburn...... RBI Single...... Top 8th...... 1-0 (8) Led after four innings...... 9-1 Feb. 24...... Mississippi State...... Sacrifice Slap...... Top 9th...... 7-6 (9) Trailed after four innings...... 1-4 March 4...... Delaware State...... RBI Single...... Bottom 5th...... 2-1 In games decided by 1 run...... 8-4 In games decided by 3 or more runs...... 6-1 Devin Porter, Sr., INF Committed no errors...... 4-3 Date Opponent Hit Inning Final Score Committed 2 or more errors...... 4-2 Feb. 25...... No. 18 Georgia...... Solo Home Run...... Top 7th...... 2-1 Weekly Notes #5 s March 14 Page 7 Don’t Leave Me Stranded 24 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans Missed opportunities, particularly in the form of runners left on base, have kept Nebraska from posting a more A total of 17 Huskers have combined to impressive record thus far in 2007. Not coincidentally, the Huskers stranded an average of nearly three fewer earn 24 CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, both runners per game last weekend and NU’s run production jumped from 2.6 runs per game to 4.4 while Nebraska of which lead the nation. Across all sports, Nebraska posted a 5-0 record. leads the nation with 235 Academic All-Americans. In its 15 wins, NU has left a total of 92 runners on base, an average of just over six per game. In its seven losses, All-Americans Under Coach Revelle the Huskers have stranded 69 for an average of nearly 10 runners per game. 14 In 14 years at the helm of the Husker Nebraska was particularly hard hit during a pair of losses on day one of the NFCA Leadoff Classic, stranding program, Coach Revelle has guided nine players to 11 runners in a 4-1 loss to Tennessee Tech before stranding a tournament-record 18 while being held scoreless a total of 14 All-America honors, including four first- through the first eight innings of a 2-1, nine-inning setback to No. 20 Florida State. team selections and two three-time honorees. On the season, NU has stranded 161 runners in 22 games, an average of 6.2 per game. By leaving only 26 runners on base in five games last weekend, the Huskers lowered their left-on-base total by two runners per NCAA Tournament Appearances game. 17 In the 25 years softball has been an Below is a breakdown of how many opportunities Nebraska has had with runners on base and how well it has NCAA sport, the Huskers have made 17 appearances converted those chances: in the NCAA Tournament, including 12 straight under Category Total Innings Opportunities (pct.) Innings Scored In (pct. converted) Coach Revelle. The Huskers’ 17 appearances tie With at least one runner.... 155 117 (75%) 38 (32%) Texas A&M for the most among all Big 12 schools. With at least two runners.... 155 69 (45%) 36 (52%) With the leadoff hitter reaching.... 155 57 (37%) 19 (33%) 7 Women’s College World Series Innings scored in.... 155 38 (25%) N/A Nebraska has advanced to a total of seven Women’s College World Series, including the inaugural event in 1982. The Huskers’ seven Pencil Me In appearances are the most of any Big 12 school. Nebraska has used a different batting lineup in each of the first 22 games of the season after having a fairly set lineup for most of 2006. Most of the starters have been set, with the exception of second base and designated 1 Undefeated Big 12 Season player. In 1998, Nebraska ran through the Big Even with the majority of the position starters settled upon, head coach Rhonda Revelle has done a lot of 12 Conference with the only undefeated season in shifting in an attempt to maximize the strengths of the lineup. After beginning the year with senior Devin Porter the 11-year history of the league. The Huskers went leading off, the Huskers appear to have returned to their proven pattern of having a slapper lead off. a perfect 16-0 to capture the regular-season crown Below is a look at the number of different starters the Huskers have tried at each position in the batting order, and went 4-0 to win the Big 12 Tournament. including the player with the most starts at that spot and the team record with her in that spot in parenthesis: Losing League Seasons in Big 12 Play No. 1 - 3 players (Darcy Rutherford, 11 starts, 7-4 record) No. 6 - 8 players (Haley Long, 11 starts, 7-4 record) 0 s Nebraska has never had a losing season No. 2 - 3 players (Mullin, 16 starts, 10-6 record) No. 7 - 8 players (Alex Hupp, 6 starts, 3-3 record) in league play in the history of the Big 12 Conference, No. 3 - 4 players (Devin Porter, 14 starts, 11-3 record) No. 8 - 5 players (Carmen Kier, 10 starts, 6-4 record) the only school that can claim that feat. No. 4 - 4 players (Crystal Carwile, 17 starts, 12-5 record) No. 9 - 7 players (Whitney Barrett, 8 starts, 4-4 record) No. 5 - 6 players (Brittany Pascale, 14 starts, 11-3 record) Big 12 Titles 6 Nebraska has won a total of six Big 12 titles, three regular-season crowns and three Waldecker Sidelined with Injury tournament titles. NU has the second-most titles in Nebraska suffered a big blow at the NFCA Leadoff Classic when senior catcher Jamie Waldecker went down with the conference, trailing Texas by one. an injury. In the second game of the day on Feb. 23 against Florida State, Waldecker suffered a broken hand while tagging out a runner. Although she attempted to play the next day, she was only able to catch for one inning. Consecutive Top-25 National Finishes The injury is healing well but her cast will not be removed until after the Huskers open Big 12 Conference play 12 Nebraska has been ranked in the final at nationally-ranked Baylor on March 24 and 25. Once the cast is removed, Waldecker will wear a splint for two USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll in each of the last 12 weeks, as she is not expected to be back to 100 percent until the Huskers travel to preseason league favorite Texas seasons, every year since the poll was formed. The A&M the first weekend of April. Huskers are one of only six teams in the nation to be ranked in the final poll in each year of its existence. Huskers Well Represented on Big 12 Honor Roll Consecutive Top-10 Attendance Seasons The Nebraska softball team was well represented on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall 2006 Honor Roll, with a 5 Nebraska built one of the finest softball total of 10 current and former players earning a spot on the list. facilities in the nation in 2002 and the fans have Sophomore pitcher Molly Hill and former Husker KoKo Tacha highlighted the list by posting a perfect 4.0 grade- responded. In the five years the Huskers have called point average. To be eligible for the honor roll, student-athletes must have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher. In Bowlin Stadium home, NU has drawn at least all, 270 Nebraska student-athletes were honored, including 33 with a 4.0 GPA. 10,000 fans each season while ranking in the top 10 Tacha made the list for a ninth time, as she has been named to the honor roll every semester. Senior Jaime Borg nationally in average attendance each year. earned a spot on the list for the seventh time in seven semesters, while Hill and fellow sophomore Meghan Mullin each made it a perfect 3-for-3. Other repeat selections included senior Ashley DeBuhr (fourth honor) and former 3 National ProFastpitch All-Stars Husker Jessica Yoachim (eighth selection), who is in her fifth year at Nebraska after earning an undergraduate In 2005, the NPF conducted its lone all- degree in Communication Studies in May of 2006. star game and three former Huskers were selected to Newcomers to the honor roll were freshmen Alex Hupp, sophomores Brittany Pascale and Darcy Rutherford and play. Nebraska’s three picks trailed only UCLA for the senior Jamie Waldecker. most all-stars among all schools in the nation. 1,000 All-Time Victories DeBuhr Taken in First Round of 2007 NPF College Draft In 2006, NU recorded the program’s Senior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr was selected by the in the first round of the 2007 National 1,000th win, making softball the first and only Pro Fastpitch College Draft, held on Feb. 14 in Denver, Colo. women’s sport at Nebraska to reach the milestone. Weekly Notes #5 s March 14 Page 8 DeBuhr was the eighth overall pick and the third pitcher selected. A native of Beatrice, Neb., DeBuhr was one of eight Big 12 players drafted among the 27 total picks. Team Game Highs Players selected in the NPF draft will be permitted to pursue any available roster spot on their assigned Batting team after completing their college season. To be eligible for the draft, each player had to be a senior however At bats: 38 vs. No. 20 Florida State (2/23) being does not affect a player’s remaining collegiate eligibility. Runs: 7 twice, last vs. Western Illinois (3/10) Hits: 11 vs. No. 20 Florida State (2/23) RBIs: 7 vs. Mississippi State (2/24) Tough Schedule Ahead Doubles: 2 seven times, last vs. Minnesota (3/10) Nebraska has grown accustomed to playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation, and 2007 will be Triples: 1 at Hawaii (2/11) no exception. NU will play at least 18 games against teams that earned 2006 NCAA Tournament bids. Home Runs: 2 vs. Western Illinois (3/10) The Huskers will also play at least four regular-season contests against teams that advanced to Super Walks: 5 three times, last vs. Delaware State (3/4) Regionals, including a pair against Women's College World Series participant Texas. Strikeouts (high): 13 vs. No. 24 Auburn (2/11) Nebraska is also scheduled to play at least 13 regular-season games against eight teams ranked in the Strikeouts (low): 1 vs. Western Illinois (3/10) USA Today/NFCA preseason top 25 poll. Through the first 17 games this season, Nebraska played a total of 10 Stolen Bases: 6 vs. Southern Utah (3/2) contests against teams that made an appearance in the top 25 at some point this year. Hit by Pitch: 3 vs. Tennessee Tech (3/23) Runners Left On Base: 18 vs. No. 20 Florida State (2/23) Revelle Nears 600th Wins Head Coach Rhonda Revelle boasts a career record of 576-298, including a 568-282 mark at Nebraska. Pitching Already the first women’s coach of any sport in school history with 500 career wins, Revelle ranks third all- Innings Pitched: 9.0 vs. Mississippi State (2/24) time among all coaches in NU history with her 568 wins at Nebraska. Runs Allowed: 6 twice, last vs. Mississippi State (2/24) Revelle is approaching another milestone this season, as she needs just 24 victories to reach the 600-win Earned Runs: 5 at Hawaii (2/11) milestone and 36 victories to record her 600th win at Nebraska. Walks: 6 vs. Southern Utah (3/2) Strikeouts: 17 vs. No. 24 Auburn (2/11) Huskers Look for 13th Consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearance in 2007 Hits: 13 vs. Mississippi State (2/24) Nebraska softball is in an elite class when it comes to postseason play. The Huskers are one of nine teams Doubles: 3 at Hawaii (2/11) to appear in the past 12 NCAA Tournaments and they look to make it 13 straight in 2007. NU also has a history Triples: 1 at Hawaii (2/8) of earning high seeds in the tournament. In the eight seasons prior to the format switch in 2005, Nebraska Home Runs: 2 twice, last vs. No. 20 Florida State (2/23) earned a No. 2 seed or higher in the NCAA Regional every season. The only other teams that accomplished Hit batters: 2 three times, last vs. Minnesota (3/8) that feat were Arizona, Michigan, Oklahoma and Washington. Fielding Overall, NU has earned 17 NCAA Tournament bids, tying Texas A&M for the most NCAA berths of any Big Putouts: 27 vs. Mississippi State (2/24) 12 school. The Huskers have advanced to the College World Series seven times, the most of any school in Assists: 13 vs. No. 18 Georgia (2/25) the league. Errors: 3 twice, last vs. Mississippi State (2/24) s Nebraska also has a strong history of hosting regionals at Bowlin Stadium. The Huskers have been awarded an NCAA Regional in three of the last four years. Individual Game Highs Big 12 Dominance Batting Head Coach Rhonda Revelle owns at least a .500 career record against every coach in the Big 12 Conference At bats: 5 six times, last by Carwile (vs. Mississippi St., 2/24) (excluding first-year head coaches). Revelle owns a winning record over each of her Big 12 peers, with the Runs: 3 by Carwile (vs. Mississippi State, 2/24) exception of Iowa State's Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler, whose Cyclones posted a 1-1 record against Nebraska Hits: 3 three times, last by Porter (vs. Minnesota, 3/8) in 2006, Gemeinhardt-Cesler’s first year as a head coach. RBIs: 3 three times, last by Carwile (at Wichita St., 3/11) Doubles: 1 22 times, last by Pascale (vs. Minnesota, 3/10) Triples: 1 by Carwile (at Hawaii, 2/11) Program Stability Home Runs: 1 seven times, last by Carwile (at Wichita St., 3/11) Nebraska softball is renowned for its tradition and one of the Huskers' richest traditions is program Walks: 2 eight times, last by Pascale (vs. No. 18 Cal, 3/4) stability. Nowhere is this highlighted more than looking at NU Head Coach Rhonda Revelle and Associate Strikeouts (high): 3 four times, last by Kier (vs. Georgia, 2/25) Head Coach Lori Sippel. Stolen Bases: 2 three times, last by Mullin (vs. WIU, 3/10) Revelle is in her 15th season at the helm of the Husker program, while Sippel enters her 18th year in Hit by Pitch: 2 by Pascale (vs. Tennessee Tech, 2/23) Lincoln. Both coaches also played for Nebraska, with Revelle enjoying a three-year career and Sippel starring Runners Left On Base: 5 by Waldecker (vs. Florida St., 2/23) for four years. In fact, Revelle and Sippel have combined to be a part of 875 of Nebraska's 1,050 all-time victories (83 Pitching percent). Innings Pitched: 9.0 by DeBuhr (vs. Mississippi St., 2/24) Runs Allowed: 6 by DeBuhr (vs. Mississippi St., 2/24) Huskers Lead in Graduation Rate Earned Runs: 4 twice, last by DeBuhr (vs. Miss. St., 2/24) Nebraska's exhausted eligibility rate among all sports reached 94 percent in the latest rates released Walks: 6 by Hill (vs. Southern Utah, 3/2) by the NCAA in November of 2006. The Huskers' rate was the best in the Big 12 Conference for the fourth Strikeouts: 17 by DeBuhr (vs. No. 24 Auburn, 2/11) consecutive year. Hits: 13 by DeBuhr (vs. Mississippi State, 2/24) Softball has done its part, as Nebraska graduated five players in 2006, including three Huskers who earned Doubles: 3 by Hupp (at Hawaii, 2/11) their degrees before completing their playing eligibility. Triples: 1 by DeBuhr (at Hawaii, 2/8) Home Runs: 2 twice, last by DeBuhr (vs. Florida St., 2/23) Hit batters: 2 three times, last by DeBuhr (vs. Minnesota, 3/8) Endowed Scholarships On Aug. 14, 2006, the Nebraska softball program proudly announced the endowment of the Julie Geis Fielding Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship, awarded annually to a member of the softball team, is the Husker softball Putouts: 16 by Waldecker (vs. No. 24 Auburn, 2/11) program’s second fully endowed scholarship, along with the Richard Raimondi Memorial Scholarship. Assists: 5 twice, last by Kier (vs. No. 18 Georgia, 2/25) Husker softball now has the only two fully endowed scholarships for female athletes at Nebraska. Errors: 1 23 times, last by Porter (vs. Minnesota, 3/10) Weekly Notes #5 s March 14 Page 9

Huskers Excelling in the Pros Career Records Watch - Pitching Three former Huskers were named all-stars in the Victories Complete Games (NPF) in 2005, the only season 1. Jenny Voss, 1997-2000...... 110 1. Jenny Voss, 1997-2000...... 127 the league held an all-star game. The Huskers’ total 2. Peaches James, 2001-04...... 98 2. Peaches James, 2001-04...... 101 of three players in the game trailed only UCLA for the 3. Leigh Ann Walker, 1999-2002...... 81 3. Lori Sippel, 1985-88...... 80 most selections among all colleges and universities 4. Lori Sippel, 1985-88...... 73 4. Ashley DeBuhr, 2004-present...... 68 in the nation. 5. Ashley DeBuhr, 2004-present...... 60 5. Stephanie Skegas, 1989-91...... 66 Former Huskers Peaches James (2001-04), Nicole 6. Donna Deardorff, 1985-88...... 55 6. Sandy Wolterman, 1981-84...... 62 Trimboli (2001-04) and Anne Steffan (2002-05) were 7. Stephanie Skegas, 1989-91...... 52 7. Donna Deardorff, 1985-88...... 61 each named all-stars. The trio then teamed up to 8. Sandy Wolterman, 1981-84...... 48 8. Marie Bowie, 1989-91...... 57 lead the to a league-best regular- 9. Mori Emmons, 1982-85...... 40 9. Leigh Ann Walker, 1999-2002...... 55 season record in 2006, with Steffan earning All-NPF Angela Blackwood, 1995-97...... 40 10. Stacie Stafford, 1995-96...... 40 honors after finishing second in the league with a

.400 average. Innings Pitched Complete Game No Hitters Pitched 1. Jenny Voss, 1997-2000...... 1,073.0 1. Lori Sippel, 1985-88...... 6 Olympic Connections 2. Peaches James, 2001-04...... 971.1 2. Jenny Voss, 1997-2000...... 3 Associate Head Coach Lori Sippel was named 3. Lori Sippel, 1985-88...... 695.1 Peaches James, 2001-04...... 3 Head Coach of the Canadian National Team in March 4. Leigh Ann Walker, 1999-2002...... 670.0 Summer Tobias, 2003-04...... 3 of 2005 and will lead the Canadians in the 2008 5. Ashley DeBuhr, 2004-present...... 632.1 5. Ashley DeBuhr, 2004-present...... 2 Olympic Games. 6. Sandy Wolterman, 1981-84...... 584.2 Sandy Wolterman, 1981-84...... 2 In her short tenure as head coach of Team 7. Stephanie Skegas, 1989-91...... 561.0 Shelby Mertins, 1983-86...... 2 Canada, Sippel has already guided the Canadians 8. Donna Deardorff, 1985-88...... 527.0 Stephanie Skegas, 1989-91...... 2 to great success. At the World Cup of Softball in July 9. Marie Bowie, 1989-91...... 482.2 9. Molly Hill, 2006-present...... 1 of 2005, Sippel led the Canadians to a 2-1 upset of 10. Stacie Stafford, 1995-96...... 381.1 Rhonda Revelle, 1981-83...... 1 the United States, handing the Americans their first Jeanne Wagner, 1982-83...... 1 loss in international play since 2002. Strikeouts Donna Deardorff, 1985-88...... 1 This past summer, Sippel led her team to a runner- 1. Peaches James, 2001-04...... 945 Marie Bowie, 1989-91...... 1 up finish at the Canada Cup and a third-place finish 2. Leigh Ann Walker, 1999-2002...... 858 Stacie Stafford, 1995-96...... 1 at the II World Cup of Softball. She then took her squad 3. Lori Sippel, 1985-88...... 838 Penny Cope, 2000-01...... 1 to the World Championship in Beijing, China, where 4. Ashley DeBuhr, 2004-present...... 763 Team Canada secured an automatic berth in the 2008 5. Jenny Voss, 1997-2000...... 708 Seven-Inning Perfect Games Pitched s Olylmpics by virtue of a fifth-place finish. 6. Donna Deardorff, 1985-88...... 382 1. Ashley DeBuhr, 2004-present...... 1 One of Sippel's star players is former Husker 7. Stacie Stafford, 1995-96...... 338 Lori Sippel, 1985-88...... 1 Sheena Lawrick, who was selected to the 2004 7. Sandy Wolterman, 1981-84...... 328 Peaches James, 2001-04...... 1 Canadian Olympic Team despite recovering from a 9. Stephanie Skegas, 1989-91...... 242 torn anterior cruciate ligament when the team was 10. Molly Hill, 2006-present...... 234 announced. A native of Calgary, Alberta, Lawrick started two games for the Canadians, who finished Shutouts Career Records Watch - Batting the Olympics with a 3-4 record, tying for the country's 1. Peaches James, 2001-04...... 44 Hit By Pitch best showing ever. 2. Lori Sippel, 1985-88...... 39 1. Jane Kremer, 1986-89...... 17 Lawrick also produced both RBIs in Canada's 3. Jenny Voss, 1997-2000...... 34 Trisha Tannahill, 2003-06...... 17 upset victory over Team USA in 2005. 4. Donna Deardorff, 1985-88...... 28 3. Devin Porter, 2004-present...... 16 5. Leigh Ann Walker, 1999-2002...... 27 Anne Steffan, 2002-05...... 16 6. Stephanie Skegas, 1989-91...... 23 5. Kristin Davidson, 1989-92...... 15 Home Sweet Home Cindy Roethemeyer, 1998-2002...... 15 The Husker softball team continued to receive 7. Ashley DeBuhr, 2004-present...... 22 7. Amanda Buchholz, 2000-03...... 13 tremendous fan support in 2006. Nebraska ranked 8. Sandy Wolterman, 1981-84...... 19 Karla Knicely, 1994-96...... 12 10th in the nation in Division I softball attendance 9. Marie Bowie, 1989-91...... 12 9. Amy Erlenbusch, 1991-94...... 11 with an average of 626 fans per game. NU was one 10.Mori Emmons, 1982-85...... 10 Jenifer Williams, 1997-2000...... 11 of 15 schools to draw 10,000 or more fans and one Stacie Stafford, 1995-96...... 10 of only three schools to reach the mark in 16 or fewer Angela Blackwood, 1995-97...... 10 home games. The thousands of fans who passed through the Saves gates of Bowlin Stadium were not only treated to 1. Lori Sippel, 1985-88...... 16 great softball, but watched the game from one of the 2. Mori Emmons, 1982-85...... 12 top stadiums in the nation. In addition to its many 3. Sandy Wolterman, 1981-84...... 10 fan amenities, Bowlin Stadium and its tremendous Jenny Voss, 1997-2000...... 10 playing surface was named the 2004 SportsTurf 5. Peaches James, 2001-04...... 9 Managers Association Field of the Year. 6. Leigh Ann Walker, 1999-2002...... 8 7. Rhonda Revelle, 1981-83...... 7 8. Stephanie Skegas, 1989-91...... 6 9. Ashley DeBuhr, 2004-present...... 5 10. Linda McCrea, 1978-80...... 4 Marie Bowie, 1989-91...... 4 Stacie Stafford, 1995-96...... 4