NEBRASKA SOFTBALL COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT: MATT SMITH [email protected] (402) 472-7780 (402) 770-5926 FRIDAY • 4 P.M. 2017 NEBRASKA SCHEDULE (8-20) Audio: Huskers.com • TV: BTN Plus Puerto Vallarta College Challenge (hosted by Triple Crown Sports) Feb. 9 vs. BYU (ESPN3) L, 1-12 (5) Feb. 10 vs. No. 1 Oklahoma L, 0-6 SATURDAY • NOON Record: 23-3 Record: 8-20 Feb. 10 vs. No. 2 Auburn L, 2-3 Audio: Huskers.com • TV: BTN Plus Feb. 11 vs. No. 13 Washington L, 5-7 Ranking: 22/21 Ranking: NR/NR Big Ten: 2-1 Big Ten: 0-3 ACC/Big Ten Challenge (at Florida State) Feb. 17 vs. No. 24 Pittsburgh L, 1-9 (5) Home Record: 0-0 SUNDAY • NOON Road Record: 0-7 Audio: Huskers.com • TV: BTN Plus Feb. 18 vs. No. 24 Pittsburgh L, 2-6 vs. Nebraska: 5-16 vs. Wisconsin: 16-5 Feb. 18 at No. 3 Florida State L, 0-9 (5) Feb. 19 at No. 3 Florida State L, 0-8 NEBRASKA AT NO. 22 WISCONSIN Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic (privately hosted) Madison, Wis. • Friday, Saturday & Sunday • March 31, April 1 & 2 Feb. 24 vs. No. 15 Tennessee L, 0-5 Feb. 25 vs. California L, 0-2 The tough schedule continues for the Nebraska In addition to its current stretch of six consecutive Feb. 25 vs. No. 20 Missouri W, 4-1 softball team this weekend, as the Huskers travel to games against ranked opponents, Nebraska played Feb. 26 vs. Oregon State W, 10-6 Madison, Wis., for a three-game Big Ten Conference eight consecutive games against ranked opponents Wooo Pig Classic (hosted by Arkansas) series with the No. 22 Wisconsin Badgers. in February. Since the NFCA poll was created in March 3 vs. IUPUI L, 1-9 (6) 1995, the Huskers had never played more than five March 3 at Arkansas L, 0-2 Friday’s series opener is set for 4 p.m. with game two consecutive regular-season games against ranked March 4 vs. IUPUI W, 6-1 on Saturday and Noon and the finale set for Sunday teams before having two streaks of six-or-more March 4 vs. Lamar W, 8-6 at Noon. Fans can listen to all three games for free games this season. March 5 vs. Lamar L, 9-10 on Huskers.com, courtesy of the IMG College Husker March 10 at No. 21 Arizona State L, 1-12 (5) Sports Network. Fans with a BTN Plus subscription The Wisconsin series also marks the beginning of a March 11 at No. 21 Arizona State L, 1-10 (5) can watch all three games live. streak of eight consecutive Big Ten Conference road March 12 at No. 21 Arizona State L, 0-6 games for the Big Red. Beginning on Friday, the March 18 New Mexico State (Game 1) W, 7-6 (8) By the end of this weekend’s three-game series, Huskers will play 10 games against four opponents March 18 New Mexico State (Game 2) W, 9-3 Nebraska will have played 21 of its first 31 games in four cities in only 13 days, traveling more than March 19 New Mexico State W, 4-1 against opponents who have been ranked in the 4,000 miles in that span. March 20 at Wichita State L, 5-7 NFCA poll at some point this season. The Wisconsin March 22 Omaha W, 15-11 series will also wrap up the Huskers’ streak of six Following its road trip, Nebraska will play nine March 24 No. 8 Minnesota* L, 0-16 (5) consecutive games against ranked opponents. consecutive conference games at home. March 25 No. 8 Minnesota* L, 4-5 March 26 No. 8 Minnesota* L, 1-8 THIS WEEK’S TOP 10 March 29 at Creighton PPD According to the NCAA, Nebraska has played the Nebraska has played only 10 games against teams March 31 at No. 22 Wisconsin* 4 p.m. No. 2 most difficult schedule in the nation with an who have never been ranked this season, and the April 1 at No. 22 Wisconsin* Noon opponent winning percentage of .668. Huskers are 7-3 in those 10 games. April 2 at No. 22 Wisconsin* Noon April 5 Iowa State (Game 1) 4 p.m. Following its three games at No. 22 Wisconsin This weekend’s series begins a stretch of eight April 5 Iowa State (Game 2) 6 p.m. this weekend, Nebraska will have played 21 of its consecutive conference road games for Nebraska, April 7 at Rutgers* 2 p.m. 31 games against teams who have been ranked its longest streak in the Big 12 or Big Ten era. April 8 at Rutgers* Noon in the NFCA top 25 at some point this season. April 9 at Rutgers* 10 a.m. NU was No. 76 in this week’s NCAA RPI ranking. April 12 at Iowa (Game 1) (BTN)* 3 p.m. The Huskers are in the midst of a six-game streak April 12 at Iowa (Game 2) (BTN)* 5 p.m. against ranked opponents, as NU has opened its Wisconsin is playing its first home games of the April 14 Penn State* 5:30 p.m. Big Ten Conference schedule with series against season this weekend. April 15 Penn State* 3 p.m. April 16 Penn State* Noon No. 8 Minnesota and No. 22 Wisconsin. Nebraska owns a 4-1 record in Madison and has April 19 Kansas 6 p.m. The streak of six consecutive regular-season averaged 8.6 runs per game in those five games. April 21 Illinois* 5:30 p.m. games against ranked opponents is the second- April 22 Illinois* 3 p.m. April 23 Illinois* Noon longest in program history, trailing only an Wisconsin’s Chloe Miller leads the nation with eight-game streak earlier this year (Feb. 10-24). a .518 batting average (Big Ten record is .507). April 25 at Creighton 6 p.m. April 28 Northwestern (BTN)* 7 p.m. TWO HUSKERS TO WATCH April 29 Northwestern* 1 p.m. April 30 Northwestern* Noon MJ Knighten went 8-for-19 (.421) with Cassie McClure had five hits, a home one homer, four RBIs and six runs run and seven RBIs in Nebraska’s five May 6 at Purdue* 5 p.m. scored in Nebraska’s five games last games last week. She also went 1-1 in May 7 at Purdue* Noon week. She is batting .444 with 20 hits the circle while throwing 18.2 of the May 8 at Purdue* 11 a.m. and 10 RBIs over her last 13 games. Huskers’ 32.0 innings. May 11-13 at Big Ten Tournament TBA @HUSKERSOFTBALL FACEBOOK.COM/HUSKERSOFTBALL HUSKERS.COM/SOFTBALL 2017 NEBRASKA SOFTBALL NEBRASKA QUICK FACTS SEASON NOTEBOOK 2 UNIVERSITY INFORMATION Senior MJ Knighten is a returning first-team All- The Husker roster features eight Nebraska natives, Location Lincoln, Neb. American. Knighten was one of 18 players to earn tying for the program’s most in-state players since Population 268,738 first-team All-America accolades from the NFCA in softball became an NCAA sport in 1982. Founded 1869 2016 (1 of 11 position players and 1 of 5 infielders). Enrollment 25,897 The roster features seven freshmen, tied for the most Nickname Cornhuskers, Huskers Knighten is one of eight 2016 first-team All-Americans in Rhonda Revelle’s 25 seasons. The last time Revelle Colors Scarlet & Cream who return for the 2017 season. Three of those eight had seven freshmen was in 2013, when the Huskers Conference Big Ten players are from the Big Ten Conference. made their last trip to the Women’s College World Series. Chancellor Ronnie Green Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst In addition to being a 2016 first-team All-American, Four Huskers were named their state’s high school Knighten earned first-team All-Midwest Region player of the year: freshman Haley Donaldson accolades in both 2015 and 2016. (Colorado); juniors Kaylan Jablonski and Madi Unzicker NEBRASKA COACHING STAFF (Nebraska); and senior Cassie McClure (Texas). Head Coach Rhonda Revelle (Nebraska, 1984) Knighten is also the only player on the Huskers’ 2017 Career Record 929-521 (.641) [26th year] Nebraska Record 921-505 (.646) [25th year] roster who has earned All-Big Ten honors in her career. Rhonda Revelle is in her 25th season leading her alma Associate Head Coach Lori Sippel (28th year) Knighten is a three-time All-Big Ten selection, earning mater in 2017. Revelle is the second-longest serving Assistant Coach Diane Miller (9th year) second-team accolades as a freshman in 2014, before female head coach in the history of Nebraska Athletics. Volunteer Coach Livi Abney (2nd year) being a first-team selection in both 2015 and 2016. Director of Softball Operations Katie Brown (5th year) Revelle owns 921 wins at NU. She is the all-time wins While Knighten is the only Husker on the 2017 roster leader (male or female) in Nebraska Athletics history. who has earned All-Big Ten recognition, senior Cassie 2016 SEASON REVIEW McClure was a second-team All-Big 12 selection as a Associate Head Coach Lori Sippel is in her 28th year 2016 Overall Record 35-21 freshman at Texas Tech in 2014. at Nebraska. Sippel is the longest-tenured female 2016 Big Ten Record (Finish) 13-9 (5th) assistant coach in the history of Nebraska Athletics. 2016 NCAA Tournament NCAA Regional Final McClure is also a three-time all-region pick. She has earned first-team All-Midwest Region honors in each Revelle (1981-83) and Sippel (1985-88) also played 2017 TEAM OUTLOOK of her first two seasons at Nebraska after being named for Nebraska.