NEBRASKA SOFTBALL COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT: MATT SMITH [email protected] (402) 472-7780 (402) 770-5926 WEDNESDAY • OMAHA • 3 P.M. 2017 NEBRASKA SCHEDULE (7-17) 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 THURSDAY • NO GAME Record: 9-19 Record: 7-17 Feb. 10 vs. No. 2 Auburn L, 2-3 Practice • Bowlin Stadium Feb. 11 vs. No. 13 Washington L, 5-7 Ranking: NR/NR Ranking: NR/NR Summit League: 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: 3-8 FRIDAY • MINNESOTA • 5:30 P.M. Home Record: 3-0 Audio: Huskers.com • TV: BTN Plus Feb. 18 vs. No. 24 Pittsburgh L, 2-6 vs. Nebraska: 11-19 vs. Omaha: 19-11 Feb. 18 at No. 3 Florida State L, 0-9 (5) Feb. 19 at No. 3 Florida State L, 0-8 OMAHA AT NEBRASKA Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic (privately hosted) Lincoln, Neb. • Bowlin Stadium • March 22 Feb. 24 vs. No. 15 Tennessee L, 0-5 Feb. 25 vs. California L, 0-2 The Nebraska softball team welcomes in-state rival The Huskers are in the midst of one of their busiest Feb. 25 vs. No. 20 Missouri W, 4-1 Omaha to Bowlin Stadium on Wednesday afternoon stretches of the year as Wednesday’s matchup will Feb. 26 vs. Oregon State W, 10-6 for a mid-week matchup between two of the state’s mark Nebraska’s fifth game in five days. By first Wooo Pig Classic (hosted by Arkansas) three Division I programs. pitch on Wednesday, in a span of 99 hours, the March 3 vs. IUPUI L, 1-9 (6) Huskers will have swept a three-game home series March 3 at Arkansas L, 0-2 The Huskers and Mavericks will throw first pitch from New Mexico State, traveled to Wichita to face March 4 vs. IUPUI W, 6-1 at 3 p.m. and the game can be watched with a the Shockers and returned home to host the Mavs. March 4 vs. Lamar W, 8-6 subscription to BTN Plus or listened to for free on March 5 vs. Lamar L, 9-10 Huskers.com, courtesy of the IMG College Husker The busy stretch continues this weekend, when the March 10 at No. 21 Arizona State L, 1-12 (5) Sorts Network. Tickets are also available for purchase Huskers open Big Ten Conference play by welcoming March 11 at No. 21 Arizona State L, 1-10 (5) by calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED, by visiting the ticket No. 8 Minnesota to Bowlin Stadium for a three- March 12 at No. 21 Arizona State L, 0-6 page of Huskers.com or on game day at the Bowlin game series. When the teams open their series on March 18 New Mexico State (Game 1) W, 7-6 (8) Stadium ticket window. Friday at 5:30 p.m., Nebraska will be playing its March 18 New Mexico State (Game 2) W, 9-3 sixth game in seven days against three different March 19 New Mexico State W, 4-1 Both Nebraska and Omaha have already played this opponents. Minnesota meanwhile will be playing its March 20 at Wichita State L, 5-7 week, with the Huskers losing a late lead in a 7-5 first game in seven days on Friday, as the Gophers March 22 Omaha 3 p.m. loss at Wichita State on Monday. UNO fell to New have been off since sweeping a doubleheader at March 24 No. 8 Minnesota* 5:30 p.m. Mexico State, 14-6, on Tuesday. Pacific last Saturday by a combined score of 22-1. 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 are 3-0 at home this season and have March 31 at Wisconsin* 4 p.m. has played the most difficult schedule in the nation won eight of their last nine home games dating April 1 at Wisconsin* Noon with an opponent winning percentage of .689. back to last season. April 2 at Wisconsin* Noon April 5 Iowa State (Game 1) 4 p.m. Nebraska has played 13 of its 24 games against Nebraska has utilized multiple starters at every April 5 Iowa State (Game 2) 6 p.m. teams who are either ranked (10) or receiving votes position this season except third base, where MJ April 7 at Rutgers* 2 p.m. (three) in this week’s NFCA top-25 poll. Knighten has started all but one game since 2014. April 8 at Rutgers* Noon April 9 at Rutgers* 10 a.m. The Huskers are 6-3 in their nine games against MJ Knighten is expected to make her 200th career April 12 at Iowa (Game 1)* 3 p.m. teams who have never been ranked in the NFCA start against Omaha. Each of her first 199 career April 12 at Iowa (Game 2)* 5 p.m. poll this season. starts have come at third base. April 14 Penn State* 5:30 p.m. April 15 Penn State* 3 p.m. April 16 Penn State* Noon Nebraska came in at No. 76 in the first NCAA RPI MJ Knighten and Alyvia Simmons have both ranking, released on Monday. produced multiple hits in four consecutive games. April 19 Kansas 6 p.m. April 21 Illinois* 5:30 p.m. April 22 Illinois* 3 p.m. The Huskers have used a different batting lineup Alyvia Simmons has reached base safely in a April 23 Illinois* Noon in all 24 games this season, and Nebraska has career-high 10 consecutive games, tying for the duplicated its starting lineup only once. longest streak by a Husker this season. April 28 Northwestern* 7 p.m. April 29 Northwestern* 1 p.m. TWO HUSKERS TO WATCH April 30 Northwestern* Noon MJ Knighten, the reigning Big Ten Alyvia Simmons has produced multiple May 6 at Purdue* 5 p.m. co-Player of the Week, has totaled at hits in four straight games, and she is May 7 at Purdue* Noon least two hits, one run and one RBI in 9-for-16 (.563) in that stretch. She has May 8 at Purdue* 11 a.m. each of her last four games. Knighten seven hits in three home games after May 11-13 at Big Ten Tournament TBA is 10-for-15 (.667) in that stretch. totaling four hits at home in 2016. 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 928-518 (.642) [26th year] Nebraska Record 920-502 (.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 920 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.