The 2002 Nebraska softball team finished its season with a 50-14 record and advanced to the program's seventh Women's College World Series.
Nebraska entered competition at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium as the No. 7 seed and faced second-seeded Arizona, the defending national champion, in the first round. Despite a terrific effort, the Wildcats handed the Huskers a tough 1-0 loss that sent NU into the loser's bracket.
Each team was held to just three hits in the loss, but a solo home run from Arizona's Leneah Manuma, the nation's leading home run hitter, proved to be the difference. Peaches James took the loss for NU, striking out nine while allowing just the one run. Wildcat All-American Jennie Finch earned the three-hit shutout, while also striking out nine.
Nebraska staved off elimination in its next game, as the Huskers defeated Michigan, 1-0. Leigh Ann Walker and James combined on a one-hit shutout, with Walker earning the victory and James picking up the save. The duo combined for 10 strikeouts, while NU struck out just four times and recorded five hits.
The Huskers scored the game-winning run in the top of the fifth inning. Leigh Suhr reached on a one-out double and Cindy Roethmeyer followed with an RBI single up the middle that scored Suhr with the game's lone run.
Later on that same day, NU met Florida State in another elimination contest. Despite a 1-0 lead after four innings, FSU rallied for a 4-3 victory to eliminate the Huskers. Down by one run, the Seminoles scored four runs in the top of the fifth, aided by two Nebraska errors, to take a lead they would not relinquish.
NU quickly cut the lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the inning when a two-run single from Nicole Trimboli plated Kim Ogee and Lisa Wangler, but the Huskers were unable to generate another run as they finished in a tie for fifth place.
Below is a quick look at the accomplishments of the 2002 squad, along with the team's NCAA Tournament results.
- Finished with a 50-14 overall record
- Finished third in the Big 12 Conference
- Only Big 12 School to advance to WCWS
- Only team in NU history to win a regional away from Lincoln
- Produced a third-team All-American
- Produced one Academic All-American
- Earned school's seventh WCWS berth
- Finished in a tie for fifth place
| NCAA Regional (Iowa City, Iowa) | ||
| Opponent | Result | Score |
| Illinois-Chicago | Win | 1-0 |
| Iowa | Win | 3-0 |
| Oregon State | Win | 7-0 |
| Notre Dame | Win | 5-3 |
| WCWS (Oklahoma City, Okla.) | ||
| Opponent | Result | Score |
| Arizona | Loss | 0-1 |
| Michigan | Win | 1-0 |
| Florida State | Loss | 3-4 |