Position Breakdown

The Pitching Staff
Nebraska's 2011 pitching staff features plenty of promise and potential, despite losing two of its top three hurlers from last season. Junior right-hander Ashley Hagemann returns to anchor the staff after a terrific finish to her sophomore campaign, while a pair of talented newcomers enter the mix in junior Haley Workman and freshman Tatum Edwards.

Hagemann saw her first extensive action as a sophomore last season, showing flashes of dominance while working toward consistency. She led Nebraska in wins and innings pitched in 2010, compiling a 15-16 record and a 3.32 ERA in 212.2 innings. Hagemann averaged more than one strikeout per inning, fanning 227 batters while holding opposing hitters to a .226 average. She ranked fourth in the Big 12 in strikeouts and also ranked among the top five league pitchers in innings pitched, appearances, saves and complete games.

Hagemann gained experience and confidence throughout last season, setting the stage for a promising end to her year. She started Nebraska's final six games of 2010, with all six starts coming against NCAA Tournament teams, including five matchups against ranked teams. In those final six games, Hagemann posted a 2.08 ERA in 37.0 innings, allowing only 23 hits and striking out 39. In throwing every inning during the NCAA Tournament, the Huskers hope Hagemann set the stage for what can be expected from her this spring. Despite a 1-2 record, Hagemann posted a 0.67 ERA in the NCAA Tournament, allowing only two earned runs and nine hits in 21.0 innings.

Newcomers Workman and Edwards will join Hagemann in the Huskers' rotation in their first year at the Division I level. Both pitchers experienced success before signing with Nebraska, as Workman was a two-time junior college All-American at Chattanooga State and Edwards was a four-time all-state selection and the 2007 California Freshman of the Year at Vista Murrieta High School.

Workman was a second-team junior college All-American in 2009 for Chattanooga State and a first-team selection in 2010. In two seasons with the Tigers, Workman posted a 57-8 record with a 1.16 ERA. A dominant right-hander, she struck out 603 batters in only 384.2 innings - an average of more than 1.5 strikeouts per inning - while allowing an average of less than four hits per game. She faced her first Division I opponent at 2010 NCAA Tournament qualifier Creighton during the fall season, picking up the win by allowing two runs on three hits in a 6.0-inning, seven-strikeout performance.

Edwards has shown the ability to be a dominant pitcher at the high school level, and she fared well during the Huskers' fall season. She owned a 42-14 career record in high school, with a 1.02 ERA in 413.1 innings. Edwards added 608 career strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a batting average under .160. In her only appearance against a Division I opponent last fall, Edwards was brilliant in a start at Creighton. Against the Bluejays, Edwards earned the win by throwing 4.0 shutout innings without allowing a hit, while striking out eight. Edwards is also expected to work at first base and in the outfield.

The Catchers
Despite not losing a single catcher from last year's roster, there will be a new face behind the plate for Nebraska in 2011. Talented freshman Taylor Edwards will be the Huskers' starting catcher on opening day and is expected to catch the majority of games for NU this season. Junior Kirby Wright is Nebraska's experienced catcher, as she has started 23 games at catcher the past two seasons.

Junior Ashley Guile, who has started 64 games behind the plate in her career, and sophomore Megan Southworth, who began last season as Nebraska's No. 3 catcher, have both switched positions and are competing for starting spots, allowing the Huskers to get their nine best players in the batting order.

Edwards is expected to be the first Husker freshman to hold down the starting catching spot in a decade (Amber Burgess in 2000). Edwards comes to Nebraska as one of the most decorated recruits in Husker history. A three-time Under Armour All-American and the 2009 EA Sports National Junior of the Year, Edwards was a four-time all-state selection at Vista Murrieta High School in Murrieta, Calif. In a stellar prep career, Edwards hit .520 with 38 home runs - tying the Inland-area record - while posting a .977 slugging percentage and a .610 on-base percentage. She was also one of the most feared hitters in California, averaging one walk every three plate appearances as a senior.

Behind Edwards is Wright, a capable backup who is serving in a familiar role for the third straight season. Wright worked behind All-Big 12 catcher Amanda Duran as a freshman in 2009, then worked behind Guile, another All-Big 12 selection, as a sophomore last season. Wright, who has also earned playing time as Nebraska's designated player, has committed only two career errors behind the plate while batting .224 last season with two doubles, one home run and eight RBIs in 67 at bats.

The Infield
Nebraska's 2011 infield will feature familiar faces, anchored by seniors Julie Brechtel and Heidi Foland, who have combined to start 310 career games on the infield. Brechtel enters her fourth year as the starter at second, while Foland is also in her fourth year as a starter. Foland has started games at every infield position, including nearly 100 starts at third base. She is expected to start at third this season but will also work at shortstop.

Sophomore Gabby Banda joins Brechtel and Foland as a returning starter. Banda started 55 games at third base last season and is expected to take over the starting shortstop job this spring in addition to again working at third base. Junior college transfer Saige Wright, redshirt freshman Kylee Muir and freshman Tatum Edwards will compete for the starting job at first base. Freshman Morgan McCann will also work on the infield and outfield.

Brechtel is Nebraska's active leader with 157 starts, as she has started all but 11 games at second base over the last three seasons. Brechtel batted .313 and posted a .431 on-base percentage as a sophomore, then moved into the No. 4 spot in Nebraska's lineup in 2010, finishing with 37 RBIs, tying for the third-highest total ever by a Husker junior. She is again expected to bat in the middle of the lineup in 2011. Brechtel is also arguably Nebraska's top defensive player, as her .976 career fielding percentage is .033 better than any other Husker infielder. A well-rounded student-athlete, Brechtel was the first Husker in four seasons to earn all-region honors both on the field and in the classroom in 2010.

Foland is Nebraska's top power hitter, as her 19 career home runs are seven more than any other Husker has hit. A former Division II basketball recruit who came to Nebraska with untapped softball potential, Foland has improved throughout her Husker career. She had a breakout junior season in 2010, batting .310 with 10 doubles, 13 homers and 28 RBIs. Her 13 homers tied for sixth in school history. She has increased her home run total every season and 14 home runs in 2011 would move her into third place on Nebraska's all-time home run chart. Arguably Nebraska's top athlete, Foland's speed gives her the versatility to bat at either the top or middle of the Husker lineup.

Banda enjoyed a solid freshman season, and she has made changes to her game while hoping for a breakout season in 2011. Banda won the starting job at third base in 2010 despite the Husker roster featuring two players who had combined to start every game at third the previous two seasons. She showed both power and discipline at the plate, slugging six doubles and three home runs, while drawing 23 walks. In 2011, Banda will look to add more speed to her game as she will bat left-handed for the first time in her career. Defensively, Banda has shown tremendous improvement in her career, including playing error-free ball over the last 20 games last season.

A trio of newcomers will battle for the starting job at first base. Muir redshirted last season as a true freshman, while Wright spent the past two seasons at Wallace State-Hanceville Community College and Edwards finished her high school career at Vista Murrieta High School. Muir has the potential to add a powerful left-handed bat to the Husker lineup, as she led Oregon's largest class with a 1.222 slugging percentage in her junior season at Lincoln High School in Portland, Ore. She also batted .519 that season and posted a .711 on-base percentage before being named a first-team all-state selection as a senior.

Wright helped lead Wallace State to back-to-back runner-up finishes at the 2009 and 2010 NJCAA Division I Softball National Championship. She batted .314 in her junior college career with 15 doubles, 11 triples, two home runs and 39 RBIs. While Muir would add power to the Husker lineup, Wright would bring speed to the table. A third-team All-American last spring, Wright stole 65 bases in 70 career attempts, while scoring 85 runs. She was a middle infielder in her two seasons with the Lady Lions but moved to first base at Nebraska to compete for a starting position.

Edwards has the ability to contribute in a variety of ways during her freshman season, but her best bet for playing time might come at first base. Edwards will also work in the outfield and in the circle in 2011. Her ability to adjust to the Division I level is expected to determine her playing time, as Edwards could potentially add a big bat to the Husker lineup. She hit .403 with 27 doubles, 34 home runs, 133 RBIs and an .817 slugging percentage in her prep career.

The Outfield
Nebraska returns all three of its starting outfielders from last season, but plenty of competition is still expected at the position. Junior Nikki Haget and sophomore Brooke Thomason are expected to retain their starting positions after earning all-conference honors last season, when both saw their first collegiate action in the outfield. The third returning starter - Tori Tyson - has been hampered by a chronic back injury, and her availability could be limited throughout the season. Junior Madison Drake, sophomore Megan Southworth and freshman Morgan McCann will also compete for playing time in the outfield. Junior Saige Wright and freshman Tatum Edwards will also work at the position in addition to working on the infield.

Each of Nebraska's returning outfielders are expected to benefit from playing time last season, as all five saw action in the outfield for the first time in their careers. After pitching for two seasons, Tyson converted to the outfield in 2010 and started 47 games. She led Nebraska's outfielders with three assists and ranked second with a .952 fielding percentage. Offensively, Tyson produced her first career hit, double, RBI and walk last season. She is expected to miss at least part of the season due to her back injury.

Haget saw her first playing time in the field last season when she started 57 games and emerged as the Huskers' starting center fielder. Haget improved defensively throughout the season as she became more familiar with the position, and her speed was an asset in center field. Offensively, Haget batted .345 with six doubles and 12 RBIs as a slapper. She added speed to the Husker lineup, finishing with 39 runs scored and a team-high 12 stolen bases. Haget also batted .345 in Big 12 play en route to earning second-team all-conference accolades. Haget's consistent production earned her a spot at the top of the lineup in 2010, a role she is expected to retain in 2011.

Thomason is Nebraska's most natural outfielder and enjoyed a tremendous freshman season. Thomason battled a nagging foot injury throughout 2010 but still earned 52 starts. She posted the best fielding percentage of any Husker outfielder and has the ability to play either corner outfield position. Offensively, Thomason batted .321 with 11 doubles, 14 home runs and 38 RBIs, becoming only the eighth Husker ever to produce 10 doubles and 10 homers in the same season. Thomason hopes to add more speed to her game in 2011 with a healthy foot. With the outlook for a healthier season and a year of experience under her belt, Thomason is hopeful she can produce another award-winning season, after she earned second-team all-conference and all-region accolades in 2010.

Drake saw her first action in the outfield last year, starting five games. She batted .200 on the season, scoring nine runs and producing her first two career RBIs. In addition to competing for playing time in the outfield, Drake could also see time as a pinch-runner. She has been Nebraska's top pinch-runner the past two seasons, scoring 16 runs in 60 career games.

Southworth has impressed the Husker coaching staff with her approach at the plate, which precipitated a move to the outfield for the Papillion, Neb., native in 2010. Southworth made 17 total starts last season and appeared as a pinch-hitter a team-high 19 times. She became more comfortable with the position as the year progressed, starting a total of nine games in the outfield. Southworth batted .220 last season with a pair of doubles among her 13 hits. After gaining a year of experience, Southworth is a top candidate to compete for a starting spot in the outfield this season.

McCann is the final player expected to work in the outfield. She will also work in the Husker infield as she tries to find a permanent position that best utilizes her skills. A two-time honorable-mention all-state selection at Omaha Burke High School, McCann will have to overcome the challenge of adjusting to a new position and facing Division I pitchers to compete for playing time in a talented Husker outfield. A speedy player, McCann is also a top candidate for pinch-running duties for Nebraska in 2011.

Designated Player
Although several players could see time at the position in 2011, Nebraska's primary designated player this spring is expected to be junior Ashley Guile. Guile has been in the program the past three years, but missed the entire 2009 season due to an elbow injury. After catching 64 games in her career, Guile is expected to only contribute offensively in 2011. She will not work at all at catcher due to continued problems with her throwing elbow.

Guile was Nebraska's top hitter last season, leading the team with a .382 average. Her average was the eighth-best mark in Husker history and ranked third among all sophomores in school history. It was also the highest mark by a Husker hitter (non-slapper) in more than a decade. Guile added 15 doubles, 35 walks and 11 hit-by-pitches. Her 15 doubles were the most ever by a Husker sophomore and tied for fourth all-time. Guile's 35 walks were good for sixth in school history and her 11 hit-by-pitches tied teammate Julie Brechtel for the school record.

In 2010, Guile made 10 starts as the designated player in the latter half of the season as her elbow injury flared up. As the designated player, Guile was able to focus all of her attention on her at bats, allowing her to hit .480 with a .594 on-base percentage and a .680 slugging percentage in that role. For her efforts, she was a first-team All-Big 12 selection and a second-team all-region pick.