Huskers to Participate in Third Fall TournamentHuskers to Participate in Third Fall Tournament
Softball

Huskers to Participate in Third Fall Tournament

The Nebraska softball team will travel to Augustana College in Sious Falls, S.D., Sept. 27-28, for its final fall tournament. On the agenda for the Huskers will be three games per day against various regional teams, including the host Augustana, St. Cloud State, South Dakota State, North Dakota State, South Dakota and North Dakota.

Schedule of Games

Sept. 27 - South Dakota State @ 9 a.m.

Sept. 27 - St. Cloud State @ 2 p.m.

Sept. 27 - Augustana @ 4 p.m.

Sept. 28 - North Dakota @ 10 a.m.

Sept. 28 - North Dakota State @ 12 p.m.

Sept. 28 - South Dakota @ 4 p.m.

Augustana College compiled a record of 26-14-1 last season. For the Vikings, it is their fourth season recording at least 20 wins. The Vikings are led by Kris Kistler, who is entering her fifth year as head coach. Augustana lost five seniors this past year.  The Huskers have played Augustana only once on April 15, 1998, when they defeated the Vikings, 6-3.

St. Cloud State posted a record of 46-16 while capturing the North Central Conference Championship last year. Additionally, the Huskies earned a bid to the NCAA Division II North Central Regional tournament, where they finished as runner-up.  St. Cloud State welcomes three new players to the roster for the 2004 season. Nebraska native Jillian Graham (Omaha, Neb.), Amanda Young, (Grand Rapids, Minn.) and Sara Wilson (Spring, Texas) make up the 2003 recruiting class.  Paula U'Ren is in her seventh season at the helm of Husky softball. As head coach, U'Ren has tallied a record of 254-82 overall.  The Huskers have never played St. Cloud State.

A second team Nebraska will be playing for the first time while participating in the Augustana Tournament will be South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits posted a 26-32 record for the 2003 season. South Dakota State's season ended with a loss to Augustana in the North Central Conference tournament, 5-2.

A recent opponent, North Dakota State, split with NU, two weeks ago at the Big Red Fall Classic, winning the first game, 4-0 and losing the second 0-7. Overall, the Bison went 3-2 at the Big Red Fall Classic in Lincoln, Neb.  During the 2003 season NDSU went 43-11 and was second in runs per game (1.07) in the North Central Conference. The Bison placed third last season at the NCAA Division II College World Series and won their fourth NCAA North Central Region title.  It has been over two decades since the Huskers have played NDSU in a regular season game. The two teams last went head to head on April 12, 1980. The score was 14-2, in favor of the Huskers. The all-time series is led by NU, 4-0. The Bison are led by Darren Mueller who is in his second year as head coach and tenth with the university.

It was 24 years ago when Nebraska last played South Dakota in an intercollegiate game. The Huskers have only played the Coyotes once, defeating them 5-4 at home on April 6, 1979. The Coyotes compiled a 31-26 record last season as they ended it with a loss to Minnesota State Mankato at the North Central Conference Tournament, 2-3, in eight innings. Kim Zarling has been head coach of South Dakota since 1995. 

The Fighting Sioux posted a winning percentage of .333 during 2003 with a 15-30 record. Nebraska last played North Dakota on April 7, 1998, when the Huskers defeated them, 12-0, in five innings. Tracy Marback is entering her fourth season as head coach of the Fighting Sioux.

Quick Notes

Sheena Lawrick tops the charts with 10 RBIs . The next closest Husker has six. Nicole Trimboli leads Nebraska in hits (11) and doubles (5).

Jessica Yoachim ranks first with eight runs.

Kira Boerkircher hit her first home run in the game versus Utah State on Sept. 20.

Devin Porter leads NU in assists (19).