NU Opens Fall Season with Wednesday Doubleheader

Potentially the youngest squad in school history, the <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska softball team will open an important fall season this Wednesday when the Huskers travel to Omaha for a 4 p.m. doubleheader with Nebraska-Omaha at Claussen-Westgate Field.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Wednesday’s doubleheader marks the first two contests of a 10-game exhibition schedule that concludes with the Big Red Fall Classic at Bowlin Stadium Oct. 6 and 7. This year’s fall season could be beneficial for the Huskers, as NU breaks in eight newcomers ? including seven freshmen ? while playing without a single senior for the first time in program history.

 

Nebraska returns eight starters from last season, when NU finished with a 37-20 record and earned the program’s 13th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers must replace the left side of the infield this year and NU also has a hole to fill at catcher, although junior Brittany Pascale saw action behind the plate in 27 games last season.

 

The Huskers are hopeful that two-time junior college All-American Amanda Duran can step up and fill the void at catcher, as the transfer was a career .490 hitter with 38 homers and 176 RBIs in two seasons at Pima (Ariz.) Community College before signing to play with Nebraska this summer.

 

In the circle, NU must replace Ashley DeBuhr and although replacing a three-time All-Big 12 pitcher will not be easy, junior Molly Hill returns this season after leading the Big 12 Conference with a 1.05 ERA in 2007 while earning second-team all-conference accolades.

 

The most competitive position battles this fall figure to be on the infield, as injuries and youth have opened up spots at second, third and shortstop. With sophomore Whitney Barrett, the Huskers’ starting second baseman last season nursing an injury, the Huskers return only one healthy infielder from 2007.

Competition for playing time on the infield is intriguing because freshmen are expected to figure heavily into the mix. In fact, freshmen Julianne Brechtel (second base), Heidi Foland (shortstop) and Abby Hughes (third base), along with sophomore Alex Hupp (third base) are the only Huskers slated to see time at those positions. Freshmen Kelli Linke, the sister of former Husker Katie Linke, also figures into the infield rotation as a backup to junior Crystal Carwile, a two-time All-Big 12 selection.

 

The outfield is far more established, as juniors Meghan Mullin, Haley Long and Darcy Rutherford return, as well as sophomore Crystal Gonzalez. Mullin started every game in the outfield last season while leading NU with a .318 average and Long earned second-team All-Big 12 honors while starting 49 games. Rutherford notched 26 starts, while Gonzalez made 23 starts before suffering a season-ending knee injury at the end of March. Freshman Sammi Liegl will also compete for playing time in the outfield.

 

Gonzalez, who is still rehabbing her knee, is one of five players out with injury this fall. Besides Gonzalez and Barrett, fellow returnee Pascale is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Freshmen Ashley Guile and Tori Tyson both suffered injuries during the first week of practice that will keep them out of action for the entire fall.

 

Although Nebraska is breaking in many new faces this fall, the Husker roster is still bolstered by plenty of proven returning talent. Carwile, Hill and Long are each returning All-Big 12 players as NU led the league last season with three underclassmen named to all-conference squads.

 

Following Wednesday’s doubleheader, the Huskers will travel to South Bend, Ind., this weekend for the Worth Classic.