NEBRASKA SOFTBALL COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT: MATT SMITH [email protected] (402) 472-7780 (402) 770-5926 GAME 1 • FRIDAY • 5:30 P.M. 2017 NEBRASKA SCHEDULE (8-17) 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 GAME 2 • SATURDAY • 1 P.M. Record: 25-2 Record: 8-17 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: 8th/8th Ranking: NR/NR Big Ten: 0-0 Big Ten: 0-0 ACC/Big Ten Challenge (at Florida State) Feb. 17 vs. No. 24 Pittsburgh L, 1-9 (5) Road Record: 9-2 GAME 3 • SUNDAY • NOON Home Record: 4-0 Audio: Huskers.com • TV: BTN Plus Feb. 18 vs. No. 24 Pittsburgh L, 2-6 vs. Nebraska: 14-18 vs. Minnesota: 18-14 Feb. 18 at No. 3 Florida State L, 0-9 (5) Feb. 19 at No. 3 Florida State L, 0-8 NO. 8 MINNESOTA AT NEBRASKA Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic (privately hosted) Bowlin Stadium • March 24, 25 & 26 Feb. 24 vs. No. 15 Tennessee L, 0-5 Feb. 25 vs. California L, 0-2 The Nebraska softball team begins Big Ten Following this weekend’s three-game series, Feb. 25 vs. No. 20 Missouri W, 4-1 Conference play this weekend when the Huskers Nebraska will have played 15 of its first 28 games Feb. 26 vs. Oregon State W, 10-6 welcome the eighth-ranked Minnesota Golden against ranked opponents, not including games Wooo Pig Classic (hosted by Arkansas) Gophers to Bowlin Stadium for a three-game series against BYU, Cal and Arkansas, all of whom moved March 3 vs. IUPUI L, 1-9 (6) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. into the top 25 after playing the Huskers. Nebraska March 3 at Arkansas L, 0-2 has played the nation’s toughest schedule based March 4 vs. IUPUI W, 6-1 The Huskers begin Big Ten play by facing the on opponent winning percentage, and the Huskers March 4 vs. Lamar W, 8-6 conference’s top team, as Minnesota (25-2) owns drew a tough start to their Big Ten schedule by March 5 vs. Lamar L, 9-10 the most wins (25), best winning percentage (.926) facing No. 8 Minnesota and No. 22 Wisconsin in March 10 at No. 21 Arizona State L, 1-12 (5) and highest ranking (No. 8) of any Big Ten team. The their first six conference games. March 11 at No. 21 Arizona State L, 1-10 (5) Golden Gophers have also been Nebraska’s Big Ten March 12 at No. 21 Arizona State L, 0-6 nemesis. Since the Huskers joined the conference Nebraska has finished fifth or better in all five of its March 18 New Mexico State (Game 1) W, 7-6 (8) in 2012, Minnesota is the only team with a winning Big Ten seasons, including a shared title in 2014, March 18 New Mexico State (Game 2) W, 9-3 record against Nebraska in Big Ten play (8-5). a runner-up finish in 2013 and third-place finishes March 19 New Mexico State W, 4-1 in 2012 and 2015. The Huskers are 78-35 (.690) in March 20 at Wichita State L, 5-7 Nebraska will be playing its sixth game and fourth Big Ten play, trailing only Michigan and Minnesota March 22 Omaha W, 15-11 opponent in seven days on Friday, while Minnesota for most wins and best winning percentage since March 24 No. 8 Minnesota* 5:30 p.m. will be playing its first game in a week. NU entered the league in 2012. March 25 No. 8 Minnesota* 1 p.m. March 26 No. 8 Minnesota* Noon THIS WEEK’S TOP 10 March 29 at Creighton 6 p.m. According to Monday’s NCAA statistics, Nebraska The Huskers have used a different batting lineup March 31 at Wisconsin* 4 p.m. has played the most difficult schedule in the nation in all 25 games this season, and Nebraska has April 1 at Wisconsin* Noon with an opponent winning percentage of .689. duplicated its starting lineup only once. April 2 at Wisconsin* Noon April 5 Iowa State (Game 1) 4 p.m. Including this weekend’s series with No. 8 NU’s 15-11 victory over UNO on Wednesday marked April 5 Iowa State (Game 2) 6 p.m. Minnesota, Nebraska will have played 18 of its the highest-scoring game at Bowlin Stadium. April 7 at Rutgers* 2 p.m. 28 games against teams who have been ranked April 8 at Rutgers* Noon in the NFCA top 25 at some point this season. MJ Knighten went 3-for-4 with a homer and three April 9 at Rutgers* 10 a.m. RBIs in her 200th career start on Wednesday. April 12 at Iowa (Game 1) (BTN)* 3 p.m. Friday will feature $1 hot dogs and Pepsi products April 12 at Iowa (Game 2) (BTN)* 5 p.m. (first 300 fans) and Saturday will feature $1 GA Nebraska’s Cassie McClure and Minnesota’s April 14 Penn State* 5:30 p.m. tickets and a water bottle giveaway (first 250 fans). Sara Groenewegen are two of only five active April 15 Penn State* 3 p.m. April 16 Penn State* Noon Division I pitchers who have been a three-time The Huskers are 4-0 at home this season and have all-region selection. April 19 Kansas 6 p.m. won nine of their last 10 home games overall. April 21 Illinois* 5:30 p.m. April 22 Illinois* 3 p.m. Alyvia Simmons has reached base safely in a April 23 Illinois* Noon Nebraska has lost its Big Ten Conference opener career-high 11 consecutive games, the longest only once - at home to Minnesota in 2014. streak by a Husker this season. April 28 Northwestern (BTN)* 7 p.m. April 29 Northwestern* 1 p.m. TWO HUSKERS TO WATCH April 30 Northwestern* Noon MJ Knighten, the reigning Big Ten Alexis Perry had four hits vs. UNO on May 6 at Purdue* 5 p.m. co-Player of the Week, has produced Wednesday. The freshman is the only May 7 at Purdue* Noon multiple hits in five straight games, Husker with both a four-hit and four- May 8 at Purdue* 11 a.m. going 13-for-20 (.650) in that stretch RBI game, and she is tied for the team May 11-13 at Big Ten Tournament TBA with three doubles and two home runs. lead for most hits and RBIs in a game. May 18-21 NCAA Regional 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 929-518 (.642) [26th year] Nebraska Record 921-502 (.647) [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.