Huskers Host Big Red Fall Classic This Weekend

The Nebraska softball team wraps up its fall exhibition season this weekend when the Huskers welcome Nebraska-Omaha and PittsburgState to Bowlin Stadium for the Big Red Fall Classic. Attendance for all games is free and round-robin play will consist of three games each day, with play beginning at 11 a.m. both days.

 

The Big Red Fall Classic marks the conclusion of Nebraska’s 10-game fall season. The Huskers began play last week with a doubleheader at Nebraska-Omaha, which NU swept, 2-0 and 5-0. Nebraska then traveled to South Bend, Ind., last weekend for the Worth Fall Classic.

 

Facing quality competition, the Huskers posted a 3-1 record over the weekend. NU defeated host Notre Dame, 3-0, in the first game before beating Illinois-Chicago, 4-0. The Huskers then topped Western Michigan, 1-0, before suffering a tough 7-4 loss to Michigan.

 

The strength of the team so far this fall has been the pitching staff, along with the play of the newcomers. With an injury to freshman right-hander Tori Tyson, junior right-hander Molly Hill and sophomore right-hander Alex Hupp have been the Huskers’ only two available pitchers.

 

In six combined starts, Hupp and Hill have thrown five shutouts. Hupp has yet to allow a run in 21.0 innings this fall, while Hill opened the fall with a 14.1-inning scoreless streak. The duo has combined for a 1.20 ERA and did not surrender a run through the first 35.1 innings this fall.

 

Offensively, Nebraska’s returners have performed well, especially juniors Crystal Carwile, Haley Long, Meghan Mullin and Darcy Rutherford. But it has been the poise of the newcomers at the plate that has been a bright spot of the fall.

 

Newcomers have produced 10 of the Huskers’ 15 RBIs, led by freshman Julianne Brechtel with five RBIs and junior Amanda Duran, a transfer from PimaCommunity College, with four. In the fall, all six healthy newcomers have seen action, while five have earned at least one start.