The 1985 Huskers recorded the best finish in school history, finishing runner-up to UCLA at the Women's College World Series. The 1985 team is still the only Husker squad in history to advance to the national championship game. Due to the use of ineligible players, Nebraska's appearance and finish in the 1985 NCAA Tournament and World Series were vacated from NCAA records.
The season started with the best regular-season in school history that included the program's second consecutive - and third ever - Big Eight Conference title. That momentum carried over into the postseason, where Nebraska staved off elimination by defeating Kansas in back-to-back elimination games to advance to the program's third Women's College World Series.
After winning the regional, Nebraska got off to an excellent start in the WCWS. Nebraska ran off three consecutive victories in Omaha before falling to UCLA. The Huskers opened the tournament in stellar fashion, as freshman pitcher Lori Sippel tossed a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts in her series debut as NU topped Louisiana Tech, 6-0.
The Huskers then defeated Cal Poly-Pomona, 2-0, before besting Cal State Fullerton, 5-1, to earn the right to play UCLA. Nebraska was unable to generate much offense against the Bruins, however, as UCLA was crowned the national champion after a 3-0 win.
With Sippel in control in the circle, the offense was led by first-team All-American Denise Day. Day batted .359 in her senior season with a then-school record 11 home runs. The first All-American and CoSIDA Academic All-American in school history, Day earned the prestigious Honda Broderick Award in 1985.
Sippel and Day were the first two Huskers to have their jerseys retired and the 1985 season marked their lone season playing together as Day was a senior and Sippel was a freshman. The duo, along with the rest of the 1985 team, made the most of the opportunity as those Huskers advanced further in the NCAA Tournament than any other team in school history.
Below is a quick look at the accomplishments of the 1985 squad, along with the team's NCAA Tournament results.
- Finished with a 38-11 overall record
- Won school's second consecutive Big Eight title
- Finished with a then-school record .776 winning percentage
- Produced one first-team All-American
- Produced two Academic All-Americans
- Produced the only Honda Broderick Award winner in NU history (Denise Day)
- Earned school's third WCWS berth and second straight
- Finished as the national runner-up, the best finish in school history
| NCAA Midwest Regional (Lincoln, Neb.) | ||
| Opponent | Result | Score |
| Missouri | Win | 1-0 (11) |
| Kansas | Loss | 1-4 (9) |
| Kansas | Win | 6-1 |
| Kansas | Win | 2-0 |
| WCWS (Omaha, Neb.) | ||
| Opponent | Result | Score |
| Louisiana Tech | Win | 6-0 |
| Cal Poly-Pomona | Win | 2-0 |
| Cal State Fullerton | Win | 5-1 |
| UCLA | Loss | 0-3 |