Nebraska Cornhuskers
Overall Rank: #41
Conference Rank: #4 Big Ten
In mid-April it looked like Nebraska was a lock for the NCAA Tournament. They had an overall record of 30-14 and were off to a decent start in Big Ten play. But then things started to fall apart. The Cornhuskers were swept by Minnesota and Wisconsin and then lost their first two games in the final series of the regular season against Illinois. However, winning the last game against the Illini did not give the team the momentum they needed heading into the Big Ten Tournament and Nebraska lost the opener to Michigan State and were left out of the NCAA Tournament.
2018: 31-23, 9-13
2018 Postseason: None
Coach: Rhonda Revelle
Key Departed Players:
Kaylan Jablonski, P/UTL, .317 BA, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 3.44 ERA, 21-14 W/L, 191.1 IP, 133 SO
Taylor Otte, OF, .274 BA, 7 HR, 24 RBI
Laura Barrow, IF, .262 BA, 10 RBI
Key Returning Players:
Tristen Edwards, IF, .356 BA, 12 HR, 43 RBI
Alyvia Simmons, OF, .346 BA, 24 RBI, 14 SB
Rylie Unzicker, IF, .227 BA, 6 HR, 26 RBI
Olivia Ferrell, P, 4.35 ERA, 9-8 W/L, 109.1 IP, 53 SO
Projection:
It will be interesting to see how Nebraska rebounds from that tough end to the 2018 campaign. But with two of the best hitters in the Big Ten back, it should not take too long before everybody forgets about last season. Junior Tristen Edwards led the Cornhuskers with a .356 batting average, 12 homeruns and 43 RBIs. Alyvia Simmons is a very different type of player. She is patient at the plate and brings speed to the team. During her junior campaign she hit .346 with a dozen doubles, 24 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. The addition of Pacific transfer Samantha Owen gives Coach Rhonda Revelle another powerful and experienced bat in the lineup. On the mound is where Nebraska could take a step back. Kaylan Jablonski needs to be replaced after going 21-14. Olivia Ferrell saw a lot of action as a freshman, throwing 109.1 innings with a respectable 4.34 ERA. Regan Mergele is an experienced senior, but Nebraska has high hopes for their trio of freshman pitchers. If the pitching comes around sooner than later, this will be a Nebraska team competing for a tournament berth.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Softball Tournament
